The two institutions signed the partnership recently to meet some infrastructural challenges.

A convention to enhance teaching and learning in the University of Bamenda (UBa) has been sealed between the University and the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD). According to the terms of the convention, IRAD puts its neighbouring Bambui station comprising a number of laboratories, office space and classrooms, at the disposal of the University of Bamenda

Available to seal the convention on the Bambili Campus of the University on October 10, 2010, the General Manager of IRAD, Dr Noe Woin said the offer expresses their conviction that science cannot be complete without laboratories which are expensive to build. He appealed for the judicious use of the infrastructure as well as its repair and equipment when need arises. He told the authorities of the University of Bamenda that IRAD parades competent scientists, ready for use as Lecturers and Supervisors.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda, Prof Tafah Edokat Edward has been decrying immeasurable infrastructural challenges facing the University which has not ceased growing in programmes, schools and faculties since creation in 2010. From the look of things, students’ enrolment is growing at a geometric rate but available infrastructure is yet to respect that growth paradigm. Students of the three schools and two faculties of the University of Bamenda are crammed in the former ENS site with a lot of pressure on the faculties which were meant to salvage the learning interests of a few thousand students.

It is against this backdrop that Prof Tafah Edokat described the offer by IRAD as a welcome emergency measure to salvage practical teaching and learning problems in the science programmes of the University of Bamenda. He said the University/IRAD partnership will be rewarding for both institutions because the infrastructure will get collegiality in research and teaching experiences.