By Hope Nda
Saint Joan Higher Institute Yaoundé (SAJOHIM) is now under the academic supervision of the University of Buea (UB), a move that is expected to enhance educational quality and excellence at the private institution.
A partnership agreement between the two institutions was signed on January 21 at the University of Buea’s Central Administration boardroom by UB Vice Chancellor Prof. Horace Ngomo Manga and the President of St. Joan, Dr. Nkwetta Derick Lekealem.
The signing took place in the presence of senior UB officials, a representative of the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education and a delegation from St Joan.
Explaining the terms of the mentorship, Prof. Ngomo Manga said UB will oversee the quality of teaching, supervise examinations, award of marks, academic defences, practical’s, and award certificates to Saint Joan students. He thanked St. Joan authorities for trusting UB to mentor their programmes, assuring them that their students will hence carry UB certificates.
St Joan programmes under UB’s mentorship include the School of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, the School of Management, Business and Finance studies.
Dr. Nkwetta Derick Lekealem, President of St. Joan, on behalf of the BOD and administration pledged to honour the agreement by adhering to quality standards set by both the Ministry of Higher Education and UB. He equally extended sincere gratitude to the University of Buea for accepting the mentorship role for their programmes and expressed honour in partnering with such a prestigious University, renowned for its academic excellence and community engagement while appreciating the trust placed in their potential. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude for the University’s willingness to share expertise, guidance, and best practices, which would significantly contribute to St Joan Higher Institute’s development.
Explaining why St. Joan chose UB among Cameroon’s 11 public universities, Dr. Lekealem said:
“We have chosen the University of Buea because of the quality of education, because quality is at the centre of the University of Buea. And me being a product of the University of Buea, I found the University worthy enough to mentor our students in Yaoundé. So, I think St. Joan Higher Institute will tomorrow be a second Place to Be or a second University of Buea.”
The representative of the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Mr. Atuefack Arnold, stressed the value of academic partnerships and highlighted the role of private Institutes like St Joan in providing professional training and enhancing employment.
He urged St. Joan to keep pace with quality assurance standards, and to prepare a formal file, including the mentorship agreement, and submit it to the Ministry of Higher Education for a full authorisation to run its professional programmes.
Dr Lekealem affirmed this will be their next move.
“The next step is to combine the final documents and submit [them] to the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education for the final authorization. And from there, we’ll be able to admit students directly into our campus for the programmes which would be mentored by the University of Buea,” he said.
Founded in 2022, Saint Joan Higher Institute focuses on hands-on education in Medical and Biomedical Sciences, Agriculture and Food Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Education, Management, Business and Finance and Home Economics and Hotel Management
“We train students for the Higher National Diploma (HND), from there we register them for the top-up BSc, which will be awarded by the University of Buea,” the President explained.
The institute has attained notable academic success over the past years, graduating the nation’s top HND student in Midwifery in 2023. Five of its students were also among the country’s highest-ranking HND candidates in Nursing last academic year 2024/2025.
UB and St Joan officials in souvenir photo after signing ceremony
UB Vice Chancellor and ST JOAN President ratify mentorship agreement
Dr. Lekealem affirmed that the partnership with UB will help sustain and raise this level of excellence. He was equally very confident that the partnership would enhance their capacity to improve academic programmes, student outcomes, and administrative systems and looked forward to a productive, long-term collaboration, anticipating the positive impact of the mentorship on their institution.
The University of Buea, ranked among Cameroon’s top institutions, will now extend its academic and technical standards to Saint Joan through this mentorship framework.
