Database management, administration: UB College of Technology, JoinIT Solutions LLC, USA certify first batch.

This was after they completed the rigorous training in Database Management and Administration. The students, all from the University of Buea, received their certificates on May 24 at the University of Buea. It was during a special ceremony chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ngomo Horace Manga. 

The award of end-of-course certificates was part of a working visit by the CEO of JoinIT Solutions LLC, USA and his team to the University of Buea. The pioneer batch of trainees for certifications in database management and administration admitted 32 students, but only 22 completed the training.

The training, according to the CEO of JoinIT Solutions, Brian Chongwain, is their support for President Biya’ vision to digitalise Cameroon.  

"It is our own way to support the Head of State’s vision to effectively digitalise companies in Cameroon. The training we give to students will enable them to get and create jobs locally and internationally," Chongwain.

Speaking to the press, Brian Chongwain said he was satisfied with the commitment of the trainees despite the challenges. 

"We are impressed with how far the students have gone given that they started as beginners and today they have skills to manage databases and infrastructures in companies. They have come a long way despite the challenges like infrastructure, internet and electricity, as they were able to keep up by downloading videos to follow lessons they missed,” he said. 

The training, he added, bridges the gap between what universities offer and what the job market needs in a digital world. He thus expressed confidence that the trainees were ready to fit into every company as database managers or administrators. 

“They have effectively worked on projects meant for high-end companies. With the skills acquired, if any company in Cameroon hires them, they will be able to fit in and bring in the modernisation and digitalisation which Cameroon needs,” he said.

On his part, the Director of College of Technology, Prof Michael Sone Ekonde, thanked the partners for the knowledge given to their students, enabling the University of Buea to become a hub in information and technology in the Sub region and Africa as a whole.

Bridging gap between higher education & companies’ needs 

The training offered by JoinIT Solutions LLC, Prof Sone said, was timely to bridge the gap between our higher education system and the technical needs of companies, by bringing companies close as the training offered meets company needs, reason there is high employability for trainees.

Speaking on how to overcome challenges faced by trainees following the training online, he said the university was putting every hand on deck to enable the trainees to gain the most from the partnership.

“We have our data centre, as all state universities, which will take off in the days ahead to compliment or alleviate the connectivity problem they had. Concerning power outage, the College of Technology is at the forefront of renewable energy as we have a project to turn the campus green, a mandate given by the university,” he said.

One of the trainees, who received her end-of-course certificate, Ofe Patrimela, said for six months of intensive training, she acquired knowledge in installation of simple servers, managing databases and looking at how databases can be secured, vital components for the smooth running of companies.

“As database managers, we ensure that these databases are secured because the vital information of customers in any company needs security. Therefore, we ensure that critical databases are secured as we encrypt some of the data and give permission following the least privilege principle, which ensuring we grant access only to users who are supposed to have it,” she explained. 

The training falls in line with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the University of Buea (College of Technology) and JoinIT Solutions LLC, USA, to enhance the quality of training in ICT and to make the University of Buea a technology hub in the country.