Yaounde, Cameroon: On 24 February 2023, the Cameroon-based Pan-African University Institute for Governance, Human and Social Sciences (PAUGHSS), organized the Convocation Ceremony of its 8^th Cohort of Master and Ph.D. students.

The ceremony was graced by several high-ranking officials, including the African Union Commissioner in charge of Education, Science and Technology and Innovation (ESTI), H.E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine; Cameroon’s Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, H.E. Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo; members of the Diplomatic Corps, Rector of  Universities of Yaounde II and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea, the Director of PAUGHSS, Prof. Elizabeth Abenga and her colleagues from PAUGHSS; the Mayor of Soa, PAU Rectorate staff.

Speaking in his capacity as the official representative of the African Union Commission, H.E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine expressed his joy in attending this grandiose event hosted in one of the citadels of education and scientific research, namely the University of Yaounde II.

In commending their efforts, AU Commissioner challenged all graduands to make proper use of skills acquired during their training to raise up their respective nations and Africa as a whole, to harness available resources to create job opportunities for a greater majority of Africans, and to promote an environment conducive to peace and socio-economic development.

A total of 91 students (64 males and 27 females) graduated from PAUGHSS’s four main programmes: Governance and Regional Integration with 68 graduands (24 Ph.D. and 44 Master); Translation with 7 graduands, Conference Interpreting with 11 graduands, and Transborder Languages and Intercultural Communication with 5 graduands.

H.E. Mohammed Belhocine extended his appreciation to Cameroon’s Government for hosting the Pan-African University Rectorate and PAUGHSS. In the same vein, he saluted the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education; the Rector of the University of Yaounde II and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea for their hospitality and unravelling support to the PAU and its Institutes. He equally expressed his gratitude to the PAU administrative and teaching staff for making PAU always shine, through their constant devotion to their missions.

He further thanked development partners for their constant support in helping the Pan-African University reach its goals.

Concluding his remarks, H.E. Prof. Belhocine called on graduands to remember where they are coming from to better inspire and impact others with their actions.

Taking the floor as Rector of the host university, Yaounde II-Soa, Prof. Adolphe Minkoa She hailed the long-time cooperation between Cameroon and Pan-African institute, in promoting and strengthening African unity through international collaborative programmes.

Addressing graduands, he said they should be proud of their achievements and must now be PAUGHSS ambassadors everywhere they go. He also expressed satisfaction at the fruitful collaboration with the University of Yaounde II-Soa ever since Prof. Elizabeth Abenga has been running PAUGHSS and pledged to continue to bring his support when necessary.

The Director of PAUGHSS joined the move in heartily congratulating graduands for their successful efforts. She urged them to give back to their respective countries and to Africa what they receive, and to keep making efforts in elevating the continent. She thanked the African Union Commission, Government of Cameroon and development partners for their constant support and assistance in getting PAUGHSS meet its missions.

Prof. Abenga also announced that new programmes in entrepreneurship
and innovation, trade and logistics, diplomacy and mediation and health
systems management are due to be launched in a future, and hopefully will contribute to responding to the Africa’s current developmental needs.

On his part, Prof. Ngomo Horace Manga, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea, noted with satisfaction the quality of training at the Pan-African University Translation and Interpreting Programmes (PAUTRAIN), exemplified by the outstanding performance of its produce on the field in major regional organizations within Africa.

Acknowledging the adoption of Kiswahili as one of AU’s working languages, Prof. Ngomo Horace Manga revealed they will propose to the Board of PAUGHSS a double major Masters programme in translation and interpretation into Kiswahili. This, he strongly believes, will help the continental institution realize its vision in fostering unity among Africans through this language. He also announced the grant of 5.20 hectares of land for the construction of a complex to host this Buea-based branch of PAUGHSS.

Speaking on behalf of the 8^th batch of graduands, Barrister Nneji, Christian Chigozie from Nigeria, thanked the African Union Commission, the Government of the Republic of Cameroon, the host university and PAUGHSS administrative and teaching staff, for this two to three-year period of learning and cross-fertilization of ideas. He committed his graduands to make full use of their hardly-earned skills to work for Africa’s betterment.

The AU Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology and Innovation, H.E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, took part in this Convocation Ceremony as part of his working visit to Cameroon from 22 to 25 February 2023.

Together with Cameroon’s Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, H.E. Prof. Jacque Fame Ndongo, he visited PAUGHSS Innovation Centre – a donation from the African Development Bank. The Commissioner also visited the 6-hectare land allocated for the construction of PAUGHSS campus in Yaounde.

For further information please contact:

• Ms. Claudette Chancelle BILAMPASSI MOUTSATSI| ESTI Department, African Union Commission | Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail:BilampassiC@africa-union.org