Innocent Mbunwe
25 April 2008
The venue is the Douala University campus at Ndogbong, where 15 institutions, the six state universities and other institutions of higher learning all over Cameroon have converged to showcase talents.
Sports Minister Edzoa (L) with Higher Education Minister Fame Ndongo geeting athletes
The yearly university jamboree was launched Sunday April 21, by the Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo, in the presence of his colleagues, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Augustine Edjoa, Minister of Youth, Adoum Garoua, and a host of other dignitaries.
At the 11th edition of this event that is due to end Sunday 27, the Douala population has already been overwhelmed with bliss.Business people, brewery and telecommunication companies are all smiles as business is at its peak; not forgetting the 'bend-skin' riders.
According to Noel Donfack, a 'bendskin' rider, his daily home take has quadrupled.
Make-shift businesses have sprouted all around the campuses, with streets as busy as a bee hive.
Some Students of these institutions who want to prove that all work and no play makes jack a dull boy are also excited to make a career out of one of the nine disciplines in the competition.
MTN, Main Sponsor
Cameroon's number one Telecommunication Company, MTN is the main sponsor of the event. Athletes, officials and fans are all clad in the company's outfits. MTN billboards, posters, caps, T-shirts, are seen at all the corners. The various university supporters' clubs are competing for the best fan club award, besides keeping the games vicinity visibly alive. They would be seen gyrating like rattle snakes to the delight of spectators.
Minister Fame Ndongo after declaring open the ceremony told The Post that, he was satisfied with the preparations so far: "preparations have been well coordinated and I hope it continues to the end."
Prof. Bruno Bekolo Ebe, Rector of the host University, told the press that, the nine commissions that were put in place for the running of the games have done a good job: "I am very contented with the preparations."
Dorothy Njeuma, Rector of Yaounde I University and National President of the University Sports Federation, FENASU, thanked God for the good weather and prescribed fair play for the teams. She also appreciated the work done by the University of Douala.
Njeuma went further to describe her institution, Yaounde I University, as a nursery for the university games and promised to emerge champion as in the previous editions.A total of about 2000 athletes and officials are currently taking part in the games.
All the six state Universities registered 138 athletes each, while the Catholic University has 65 athletes, National Polytechnique, Bambui, 40 athletes and Ecole Superieur Saint Louis, 30.
The games are spread out in many playgrounds on the campus, and other affiliated institutions like the Higher Teachers' Training School, and the Institute of Technology, both in the Ndogbong neighbourhood.
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