Popular Fanfare electrocutes B’da
University Saturday
 |
| Fame Ndongo |
The hustle and bustle along the
Bamenda-Bambili road was unprecedented Saturday, as the dynamic populations of
the seven divisions of the North West region abandoned their usual activities
and trooped into the Bambili main campus of the Bamenda University, UBa, to
witness the official opening of the 2017 National University Games. The popular
mobilization and fanfare was not only telling of the enthusiasm of the
population but also betrayed the importance they attached to the games, the
first to be hosted at UBa, since its creation by President Paul Biya in 2010.
The
thousands of enthusiastic watchers had come to also communion with the
estimated 5000 athletes and officials that were pulled in from 20 public and
private Universities and other Higher Institutions of learning in the country,
to showcase their sporting and cultural talents.
The
presence in the games venue of emblematic sports stars like Rigobert Song,
Sarah LienguEtonge and Yvonne Gwaya only drove the populations and the athletes
into uncontrollable ecstasy.
Officially
opening the 2017 Games, the Minister of Higher Education exhorted the athletes
and officials to demonstrate a high sense of discipline, moral rectitude and
fair-play, as they display their talents in sports and culture throughout the
10 days that the games will be staged. Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo, who
doubles as the Chancellor of Academic Orders in Cameroon, enjoined the students
and officials not to be oblivious of the theme for this 20th edition of the
University Games: “2017 University Games: 20 years of promoting talent towards
development, peace, unity and the emergence of Cameroon.”
The
highpoints during the opening ceremony included the lighting of the Olympic
Flame, oath-taking by the athletes and officials and march past of the
participating delegations. All these events culminated in a football match that
saw the Bamenda University trounce Ngoundere University 2-0.
But
the activities of the day did not begin with the official opening ceremony.
Earlier in the morning there were other events including notably a
semi-marathon race and a popular walk for peace. These events were jointly
presided by the Higher Education Minister and his colleague of Sports and
Physical Education, Pierre Ismael BidoungMkpatt, who together led the peace
walk.
Observers
admitted that the popular fanfare in Bambili and even in Bamenda City in
general was the first of a kind.
“We
came here to witness this first ever varsity games to be hosted in the
University of Bamenda and from what I have seen so far I cannot help saying
that it is a memorable experience; it would remain indelible in my memory for
years to come. In fact, I have taken pictures until my phone is already full,”
said a spectator in discernible joy.
“You
can see for yourself how happy I am. It is the first time I am witnessing this
kind of mobilization and fanfare in and around the Bambili campus. I think this
is clear testimony that calm is returning to the NW region and the people are
willing to go about their daily activities in peace and also live together with
their brothers from other parts of the country.”
The
University games are a sporting and cultural jamboree held annually in the
month of April, rotating from one university to the other.
The
successful holding of the games has proven doubting Thomases that thought and
prayed that the games should be frustrated by ghost towns, wrong.
Some say the restoration of the internet in
the NW and SW barely a day to the start of the games might have played the
trick of dousing the tension that reigned among the population of Bamenda ahead
of the games.
For
the 10 days of the games, athletes will showcase their talent in team and
individual sporting disciplines. Those who excel will bag medals and other
prizes.
Also present to witness the opening
ceremony were Ministers, MPs, Mayors, Business elite and traditional
authorities.
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