Global academician of Cameroonian descend, Prof Victor Mbarika who is the founder of the prestigious ICT University has initiated what he calls e-patriotism to enhance peace and reconciliation.
Mbarika unveiled this new concept while participating at the 4th session of the Committee for the Follow Up of Implementation of Recommendations of the Major National Dialogue. The meeting took place recently at the Prime Minister’s Office in Yaounde.
Prof Mbarika who is passionate about peace returning to the North West and South West regions and Cameroon in general said, in the face of new changes in technology, there is need to give technology a central role.
According to Mbarika, technology has a major role to play in enhancing the promotion and show of patriotism, peace building and reconciliation in Cameroon.
Being an ICT expert himself, Prof Mbarika underscored that Information and Communication Technology is one of those sectors in which if huge investments are made, it will go a long way to enhance peace.
This, he believes, will accelerate the trend of electronic patriotism through the responsible use of social media space. “ We are running an ICT University in Cameroon. We train young Cameroon on the various technological transformation the world is undergoing. Besides that we insist on the good use of the internet in the promotion of peace in our troubled country,” Prof Mbarika said.
He added that there is a need for the responsible use of the internet, before mentioning that: “ We have seen over the years especially at the outbreak of the crisis where the internet was used as an instrument to propagate fake news and this went a long way to stir up the crisis.
“ For example before I came here for this meeting, many people sent me messages that I will be arrested. But you can see that there is nothing, I think we all have to use ICT in the promotion of peace”. Promoting peace is incomplete without love for country, he opined.
He attested that, the biggest moments when all Cameroonians are glued to their television sets and internet is during football such as champion leagues among others.
But, on the contrary, instead of taking advantage to promote messages capable of forming conscious mindsets on the use of ICT to preach patriotism, many, he regretted are not doing so. He recommended the minimal display of too many advertisements and an increase in messages of peace and unity.
Prof Mbarika cautioned the valorisation of customized digital and multimedia centres, adding that, the gesture by the President of the Republic to offer laptops to students was strategic in forming E-Patriotism inclined citizens. Prof Mbarika insisted that, the largesse was justification for Biya’s love of technology.
He has recommended that, citizens should Maximise social media platforms and digital space with government propaganda; setting up of Multimedia centres with free internet but must be customized to disseminate propaganda on peace and unity based on the new decentralized system for each region, the inscription of Digitized messages on peace in all national monuments across the country including state Bill boards and Digital learning management system for State University MUST carry messages on national unity.
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The ICT University operates a purely US-based curriculum to provide quality ICT and Managerial Human Capacity Development specially targeted for Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia, the ICT University is a vibrant institution which aims at imposing itself as the premier destination for research, innovation and training of scholars relevant in the context of developing economies.
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With a plethora of programs at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, including diploma and certification programs, the ICT University offers a dynamic and flexible learning environment that inspires innovation and creativity and lays emphasis on student access.
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