I was tagged UB’s tyrant - Dorothy Njeuma

Prof. Dorothy Limunga Njeuma, pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea has said during her days at UB, she was tagged a tyrant and an iron-lady by many.

Njeuma was speaking in an academic discourse at UB’s 19th convocation that took place last Saturday, at the Herbert Nganjo Endeley Amphitheatre of the university.

Njeuma who is credited with transforming University of Buea into a centre of excellence in Africa said the university started as a baby and she nurtured it with plenty of care and attention.

From 1988 to 2005 she worked at the University of Buea, first as Director General of the Buea University Centre (1988–93) and then as Vice-Chancellor; 1993–2005.

She told the graduates of UB that 21 years into the existence of the university of Buea, its graduates have to make the difference in a country that is very corrupt and doing all to become emergent by 2035.

The pioneer UB Vice-Chancellor said because she preached the virtues of discipline, morality, and patriotism, many tagged her tyrant; while others called her an iron lady.

However, she said all the name calling did not deter her from laying UB’s foundation of excellence.

The University of Buea under her leadership distinguished itself as the leading state university in Cameroon. In 1999, she was named the best female manager in Cameroon.

It is with this rich background, among others, that Prof. Njeuma called on the graduates to borrow a leaf from her and make themselves and Cameroon better.

She lamented on the fact that Cameroon in the 2014 corruption world ranking occupies the 146 position out of 175 countries with an index of 27 on 100.

As a reminder to the graduates, she compared Cameroon to many countries that in the past few decades were far less developed than Cameroon, but now are great economic powers; countries in the likes of South Korea and Malaysia.

She then called on the graduates to take Cameroon to emergence with the knowledge and skills they have, while observing moral values.