At UB public lecture: Deputy VC, Prof Ekonde, says institution ready to lead quantum revolution.

The Public Lecture is one of the traditional activities signalling the start of the academic year at the University of Buea.

Prof Lukong Cornelius Fai, Director of the College of Technology of the University of Buea and renowned theoretical physicist, delivered this year’s Public Lecture. 

In the seven-face presentation, he stressed that quantum mechanics and physics was the next big thing that will revolutionise human life in ways not imagined. 

To ensure that Cameroon and Africa are not left out of the discussion, he called on researchers to develop mechanisms to overcome challenges and for the government to dedicate more resources for research and innovation. This, he said, could be done with continuous investment in research and researchers. 

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Teaching, Professionalisation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies, Prof Michael Sone Ekonde, said the lecture marked the official academic take-off for the year. 

"The Public Lecture is actually our first lecture to kick-start activities for the 2026/2027 Academic Year. Attendance was really quite impressive; it was fully packed and very engaging. All the participants were very excited about the topic," he said.

He expressed confidence that the academic staff are ready for the new year, describing the presentation as edifying, with a believe that the participants learned first-hand the advantages of quantum computing. 

In this light, he said the approach must be holistic because quantum computing is so cumbersome, thus the need for collaboration to have it in a miniaturised form, like what are in cell phones.

Prof Ekonde said the University of Buea intends to play a leading role in the Quantum Revolution. 

“…as a university, Top Management will give him the entire enabling environment to succeed in that regard, so that our students and lecturers can get actively engaged in quantum science. It is very fruitful research for the University of Buea, and we are going to be pushing for certain initiatives to encourage this," he said. 

For his part, Prof. Lukong Cornelius Fai said his lecture was a ‘call to arms’ and an appeal to the Government of Cameroon to invest massively in students, teachers and research.

"Today is a call to arms. It is an appeal to our government to invest in our students, in our teachers, and in our research, so that we can be able to bring the development, the innovation and the sovereignty that is required. This is because without this investment, we cannot be able to do much," Prof. Fai declared.

He disclosed that his research team has made significant progress in less than one year despite limited resources. He warned that the world is entering the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions driven by quantum computing, Artificial Intelligence and advanced materials, and Africa must not be left behind.

The lecture ended with a question-and-answer session during which students and lecturers sought clarifications on quantum applications in medicine, cryptography, agriculture and education.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3948 of Friday October 23, 2026