By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The United States Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E Christopher J. Lamora has inaugurated the Center for Transformative Education at the University of Ngaoundéré in the Adamawa Region.
The inauguration ceremony took place on March 11. H.E Lamora was accompanied by Prof. Abdoulmoumini Mamoudou, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ngaoundéré, alongside many other dignitaries.
In a keynote speech, the U.S. diplomat said that the occasion marked the culmination of several years of collaborative efforts between Cameroonians and Americans. He added that the center will provide an opportunity for teachers, lecturers, professionals, and students to engage in constructive discussions, pushing each other to challenge the status quo and improve educational outcomes for future generations.
“This occasion marks the culmination of several years of collaborative efforts between Cameroonians and Americans. The work that we do together has tremendous potential to transform societies, and today we are witnessing the beginning of the far-reaching effects that I am confident will result from the creation of this Center,” H.E Lamora said.
He added, “This marks the beginning of transformative education pedagogy, where teachers, lecturers, professionals, and students will engage in constructive discussions, pushing each other to challenge the status quo and improve educational outcomes for future generations.”
Highlighting the partnership between the University of Ngaoundéré and Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, he said that both institutions share an unwavering commitment to education and professional development.
“This is why we were pleased to award Ball State University a U.S. government grant of CFA 15 million ($25,000) to organize a series of seminars on innovative pedagogic approaches in support of the Center for Transformative Education,” he added.
While admitting that several lecturers and students at the University of Ngaoundéré have benefited from exchange programs in a variety of fields, he expressed his optimism that this partnership will grow and expand for the mutual benefit of Cameroonian and American students and scholars.
Besides remunerating some of the teachers of the institutions who have benefited from the US Exchange programs, the Ambassador indicated that partnerships between American and Cameroonian universities, such as that between the University of Ngaoundéré and Ball State, further foster knowledge-sharing and strengthen academic ties.
“We at the U.S. Embassy also seek to empower students and faculty by providing access to free digital library resources, ensuring they have the information they need to successfully conduct their work. Furthermore, we invest in the future of Cameroon by supporting projects that empower young people across the nation and develop their leadership skills,” he said.
According to Ambassador Lamora, these engagements embody the U.S. commitment to investing in Cameroon’s vast human capital and its institutions. “I have focused a lot on educational and leadership development. But the U.S. partnership with Cameroon also extends to other priority areas, such as addressing immediate humanitarian needs,” he stated.
The Center for Transformative Education is a partnership between the University of Ngaoundéré and Ball State University in the United States. The Center’s goal is to reinforce pedagogic competence among professors, increase curriculum quality, and promote transformative pedagogy, student engagement, leadership, and effective evaluation of students and instructors. In addition to donating 10 computers, the U.S. Embassy supported the Center with over 15 million CFA to implement pedagogic workshops.
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