In an event that brought together a cream of persons from the academia including the clergy, the St. Monica University has matriculated the first batch of students. This took place at the Liongo Campus on January 25, 2014.
Giving a discourse on behalf of the president, Tsafack Fidelis indicated that the St Monica University is the only one in the area bringing American style of study nearer the Cameroonian population. It is again, he said, the only university that really practices the much talked about BMP system where there is flexibility and ease of movement within fields. Quoting from a speech made by the president on another occasion, he said the students of SMU ‘learn with support’ and ‘graduate with confidence’.
Fr. Andrew Solih Ngah, one of the regents of the university, in a motivational speech drew from his own experience and experiences of his peers to present to students the advantages they have to study in such a place as St Monica. Studying under street lamps and burning the midnight candle was practical for them not metaphorical. He encouraged students to work hard to merit their certificates. Some vices which could deter them from this goal he highlighted were: local heroism, procrastination, sloth etc. He called on students to see where they are as green because he who is inside the fence sees the other side as green forgetting that once outside the fence the other side will now look greener.
A major highlight of the day was the taking of the matriculation oath. With hands raised, the students swore to stand for excellence, truth, moral rectitude and for the integrity of the individual and society. Following the values of the university which seeks to transform the lives of its students and the society through teaching and developing new knowledge through research, the students took the oath.
By Ita Nawom