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COVID-19, a reality in our community!!! Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB) in a bid to join hands in the fight against COVID-19, has offered protective face masks, hand sanitizers as well as car stickers for COVID-19 awareness. This gesture by the management of BUIB is part of its corporate social responsibility to curb the spread of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Targeting taxi drivers as well as bus drivers, who are also exposed to the pandemic as they come in contact with passengers daily, these beneficiaries expressed gratitude to BUIB for such a move and for having drivers at heart. Going with  the motto “knowledge and Service to Humanity” BUIB is not only committed to providing academic excellence in its schools of Education, Management and Health Sciences, but also engages in other activities that  impact community members and stakeholders. This 15th day of July 2020 has been recorded by drivers within the Buea municipality as one with a difference with BUIB being the author of this difference.

The Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB) now carries an official status to run two new undergraduate programs and 36 post graduate programs in the School of Health Sciences and the School of Management Sciences.  This accreditation by the Ministry of Higher Education is documented in a specific agreement signed on the 19^th day of June 2020 between Biaka University Institute of Buea and the University of Buea (UB).

In keeping to its mission to transfer knowledge and also ensure quality training by Private Higher Education Institutions, the University of Buea as per this agreement, will accompany and mentor BUIB in all their academic activities.

Speaking at the official ceremony in the presence of staff and students of both institutions, the Chair of BUIB, Mrs. Francisca Hongla Biaka and the Vice-Chancellor of UB Prof. Ngomo Horace Manga expressed satisfaction at the excellent relationship which has existed between the two institutions since 2007.

Haven met all standards set by the Ministry of Higher Education; the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea reassured the management of BUIB of their continuous support in transmitting   quality knowledge to students entrusted to their care.

The Vice Chancellor and chair of Biaka University, Mrs Francisca Hongla Biaka, on her part expressed gratitude to its mentor institution for standing tall all these years and ensuring that BUIB stays true to the policies guiding the functioning of private higher education institutions in Cameroon.

At this event which took place at the amphitheater 150 c of the University of Buea, The Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education was represented by the Director of Development of Higher Education, Dr.  Gustav Ndondo.

The President of the Republic of Cameroon, Mr. Paul Biya, through the Ministry of Higher Education, has offered some 2000 protective face masks to Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB) as part of Government’s support to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic within the country. Received this 10^th day of June 2020 at the university’s complex by the Vice Chancellor of the institution Dr. Hongla Francisca Biaka, these protective face masks will go a long way to serve the over 1,700 students of the university as well as its faculty and  staff .

This kind gesture by the government has been described by some of the students of BUIB as that which does not only encourage them to fully embrace  all  COVID- 19 preventive measures as part and parcel of them, but also boosts their confidence  that the Government is not relenting its efforts in containing the current health crisis in the country.

As confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to rise within the country, the President of the Republic has made it mandatory for all to wear protective face mask when they go out in public.

Health experts say wearing a face mask will help prevent the spread of infection and prevent the individual from contracting any airborne infectious germs. When someone coughs, talks, sneezes they could release germs into the air that may infect others nearby. According to them, face masks are part of an infection control strategy to eliminate cross-contamination.  

This move  by the Head of State comes to complement that which the university has in place including hand washing points, hand sanitizers, social distancing in classrooms among others to ensure a COVID -19 free campus.

The Biaka University Institute of Buea has recorded a massive turn out of students as they answer present on campus to continue with studies for the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year.  This onsite presence was suspended some two months ago by the Cameroon government in a bid to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Entering into a campus well equipped to host the students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, students and lecturers obeyed the  safety rules put in place by the management to ensure a COVID-19 free campus.

 All stakeholders entering into the Biaka complex are expected to make use of the running water, detergents and hand sanitizers placed at the main entrance of the university as well as all other entry points within the university.

The students who walked into campus with much excitement to continue with traditional classroom lectures are also very protective of themselves as they could be seen wearing their mask and maintaining social distancing as they follow lectures in the classroom.

Worthy of note is the fact that the time table for lectures allows for classes with large numbers to be split into at least three different sessions so as to maintain social distancing within the classrooms and the university at large.   

Students have taken upon themselves to ensure a COVID-19 free environment by frequently disinfecting their benches with sanitizers made available by the university management.

The semester which appears to be challenging one due to the current health crisis, students and lecturers as well as administrators have embraced all necessary safety measures to stop the spread of the pandemic and stay alive.