In a landmark move toward fostering regional academic integration and student mobility within Central Africa, the Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB) has officially signed a Specific Agreement with the Gabonese Ministry of Higher Education and the Gabonese National Scholarship Agency. The historic signing took place in Libreville, Gabon, under the distinguished auspices of the Ambassador of Cameroon to Gabon.
The official signing ceremony brought together high-ranking education stakeholders from both countries, including Professor Ndassa Ibrahim, Technical Adviser to Cameroon’s Ministry of Higher Education (MINESUP), the Minister of Higher Education of Gabon, the President of Private Higher Education Institutions in Gabon, the President of Private Higher Education Institutions in Cameroon, and the Director General of the Agence Nationale des Bourses du Gabon (ANBG).
This tripartite agreement marks a significant milestone in advancing inter-African academic collaboration and paves the way for hundreds of Gabonese students to benefit from BUIB’s professionally driven and quality-assured academic programs. The agreement outlines key areas of cooperation including full and partial scholarship placements, streamlined admission pathways, joint academic programs, and the establishment of a monitoring framework to ensure student success and institutional accountability.
Speaking at the ceremony, BUIB’s representative, Dr. Francisca Biaka, emphasized the university’s strong commitment to cross-border educational excellence, highlighting the institution’s mission to “build bridges through education.” The university’s core values of professionalism, innovation, and inclusivity were reiterated as pillars that would support Gabonese students in their academic journeys at BUIB.
The Gabonese Minister of Higher Education lauded the partnership as timely and strategic, particularly in light of Gabon’s efforts to diversify its higher education portfolio and expose its students to internationally aligned institutions. He noted that Biaka University’s reputation for quality, particularly in health sciences, Agriculture, and engineering, was a key factor in the ministry’s decision to formalize ties with the institution.
The Director General of the ANBG expressed satisfaction with the robust academic framework presented by BUIB during a recent visit by a high-level Gabonese delegation. He confirmed that this agreement would open new academic pathways for Gabonese youth and strengthen the human capital development agenda of the country.
The President of the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions in Cameroon described the agreement as a reflection of the private sector’s growing role in regional development through education. He emphasized the importance of such collaborations in addressing continental challenges with homegrown solutions.
This agreement follows an earlier exploratory visit to BUIB in which a five-man Gabonese delegation, led by Professor Alain Souza, toured the university’s facilities and engaged in wide-ranging discussions on partnership potentials. That visit laid the groundwork for what has now become a formalized and strategic partnership.
The Specific Agreement will enable Gabonese scholarship beneficiaries to pursue studies in BUIB’s five schools: Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Management, Education, and Agricultural Sciences. The university has pledged tailored support services, including French-language integration programs, to ensure a smooth transition and optimal academic performance for francophone students.
The signing of this agreement underscores BUIB’s growing regional influence and its position as a premier destination for quality, career-oriented higher education in Central Africa. It also affirms the university’s unwavering commitment to nurturing competent professionals capable of leading transformation across the continent. As both countries deepen their cooperation, this agreement stands as a beacon of what can be achieved through purposeful diplomacy, visionary leadership, and a shared belief in the power of education to change lives and build stronger societies.
The signing was immediately followed by another significant diplomatic engagement. On June 12th, the Vice Chancellor of Biaka University Institute of Buea was officially received by the Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency of Gabon in Libreville. This high-level audience came just a day after the formal signing of the Specific Agreement on June 11th and served as a reaffirmation of the Gabonese government’s full endorsement of the partnership. During the meeting, both parties discussed the strategic implications of the agreement and expressed mutual commitment to ensuring its successful implementation for the benefit of Gabonese students and the broader Central African academic community.
