By SA'AH SIONA IKEI
Green Springs' Board of Directors and Partners
To address the longstanding barrier of limited entrepreneurial skills and support for Cameroonian youths seeking self-employment opportunities, the Green Springs Blue Economy, Green Jobs & Coastal Careers Center has engaged an innovative solution—a transformative Boot Camp. This inaugural event, spanning two days, focused on entrepreneurial skills, aerodynamics, and launching self-employment and space careers, aiming to equip participants with the tools necessary to succeed in their ventures. Topics covered during the program included "Financial, Human Resource and Stress Management," "Building Social Business Incubators," and "Introduction to E-commerce, Trade, and Blue Economy."
Linus Enobi Akepe,Vice Chancellor at Green Springs University
Dr. Linus Enobi Akepe, the Inaugural Vice Chancellor, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "We are organizing the first boot camp. This is an intensive training for entrepreneurial skills and self-employment. We have 5 thematic areas... Through these programs, participants will be able to leave the classrooms and go to the field to start practicing because we are going to give them the training, provide them with the necessary basic equipment they need to be able to carry out their job. We are expecting over 500 participants who will fall under the 5 different thematic areas."
Dr. Akepe's leadership aims to revolutionize digital education at the university by fostering practical experience and an entrepreneurial mindset. His commitment extends beyond the campus, as he strives to bridge the digital divide in Cameroon and Africa. The Green Springs University Institute seeks to create a synergy between the digital economy and agricultural practices, emphasizing the importance of harmony with nature and the blue economy for sustainable futures and coastal careers.
Ndi Viola Nyoh, the founder of the institution, highlighted their focus on innovation and digitalization, setting them apart from other universities. She stated, "Our particularity here is innovation and digitalization. We have seen a lot of universities training job seekers. Here, we train job creators. Our institution is an institution of entrepreneurship. We have a variety of fields like data science, which we can't find in so many universities."
The boot camp's first edition provided full scholarships to 100 internally displaced persons, with others benefiting from subsidized fees of CFA 50,000 FRS, thanks to the support from board members. While initially offering 3-6 month programs, the university envisions expanding to full-length degree programs in the future, granting students the opportunity to earn Higher National Diplomas or degrees. The fees for these programs vary based on the chosen curriculum.
By Sa'ah Siona Ikei,
Creative Storyteller.
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