Cameroon is one of the twenty countries sharing in this initiative, also supported by the UN. These various partners have put together a package of computer equipments, internet access and training/educational materials in variety of subjects, which will be installed in three different locations of Cameroon,” Marsh explained.


The project also includes; new methods of sight surveys, setting up of solar panels and void (intercommunication in local areas). Marsh is convinced that these newfound ICTs have a place in the Cameroonian society and Africa in general.

“Definitely! Look at how the internet cafes is a boom in Cameroon. people want to access the internet, email and that incredible amount of information available in many languages and in almost every subject. Information should not be limited only to the people in the urban areas.

There is no difference between the person living in the village, what they want and the person in the city. They all want to better their lives, be educated, learn more and the internet is amongst the best ways to deliver knowledge, ” he said. 

According to Marsh, the digital divide between Africa and the West will close soonest. “It’s already changing. There is the explosion of the availability of mobile phones. The growth rate of the mobile phones is highest in Africa. The market is exploding in every part of Africa. The people in Africa want better communication,” he commented.

He was reassuring that sustainability will be taken into consideration as they install the new ITCs. “It’s going to be a big challenge but we’re going to develop local staffing for that. That’s why we’re training our five Cameroonian  partners before we embark on the installations so that they can have the minimum expertise in all the areas required to carry out the work, especially in the remote areas.”

Marsh was confident that these new ICTs will add to the Cameroonian ITC scene, especially in the remote and rugged areas of the country, while entreating the young Cameroonians to learn as much they can on IT because it is their future.

Justine Ntui Obim, Director, ADCOME IT Centre, found the training seminar enriching to the activities of her institution. “We’re going to be in partnership with AMD, INVENEO and create more networks. It will help us to sensitise the community and improve on our multimedia services. We’ll move from the outdated methods to fast-paced technologies; sight surveys, installing solar systems and make IT available for all persons and at very affordable rates,” she noted.

Roland Teffo from LANDMARK, Bamenda, saw an improved network in their services, with the knowledge gathered from the seminar. “We’ve acquired better techniques on improving our services, like the lectures on DVI, Internet Protocol, Solar Panels and more.”    


Keywords: cameroon education ict society development