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The ERuDeF Institute of Biodiversity and Non-profit Studies (EIBiNS), has matriculated its second batch of trainees.
Seven trainees were matriculated into specializations like NGO Administration, Agroforestry Management, Environmental Journalism and Wildlife Management. The trainees were admitted on March 22, 2014 for the Integrated Conservation Management (ICM) and the NGO Studies and Fundraising (NSF) Diploma Programmes at a ceremony which took place at the EIBiNS campus at Mile 18 Buea, South West Region.
The ceremony brought together representatives from the Southwest Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife, Employment and Vocational Training, Agriculture and Rural Development, St. Monica University and Catholic University Institute Buea and others.
The Acting Director of EIBiNS, Ita Nawom, congratulated the freshmen and encouraged them to take their studies seriously so that upon graduation, they would be well moulded to address environmental problems.
Ita also used the matriculation ceremony to launch the recruitment process of trainees for the 2014/2015 academic year to start by October 2014
She cited several benefits that accompany studies at EIBiNS including a 24 hour free internet access, an online library system, professional practices through ERuDeF/Trees for the future and African Conservation Foundation, access to a very strong database of funders, international scholarships, grants, fellowships and student support.
In an academic discourse, the Vice Dean in Charge of Research and Cooperation at the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences of the University of Buea, Professor Yenshu Emmanuel, while blaming the loss of Earth’s vegetation cover on individualism that has accelerated the unsustainable consumption of natural resources and destruction of major forest contents including desertification, implored the trainees to make the best of their studies at EIBiNS.
The ceremony ended with the taking of the matriculation oath and the signing of the matriculation register with trainees pledging to adhere to all the rules and regulations governing the institute.
The trainees were filled with joy after the ceremony. “I am very happy to be part of EIBiNS and after this matriculation, I am very confident that my dreams will come true through the Institute” Neba Grace, a Wildlife Management trainee said.
Ndutu Marie specializing in Agroforestry management said “I am very happy being matriculated as a trainee into this institute and I think it is just the best choice I made”.
EIBiNS is Cameroon’s pioneer conservation and non-profit institute. It was created in 2012 as the training and capacity building Division of the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) to provide leading edge and holistic professional training in conservation and development management to the future cream of conservation and development leaders in Cameroon and beyond.
Barely two years after creation, the institute already has an existing partnership with Virginia Tech University and Trees for the Future in USA, African Conservation Foundation in the UK, and is working with St. Monica University Buea to establish a certification programme for her certificates and courses. A similar exercise will soon begin with the University of Buea.
By Bertrand Ndimuh