By Guy-Bruno Maimo
The Catholic University Institute of Buea (CUIB) on Tuesday, 18 November, 2025, welcomed over 500 freshmen during a convocation ceremony that opened the 2025/2026 academic year. His Lordship Michael Bibi, Bishop of Buea and Chancellor of CUIB, called on students to embrace discipline, commitment, and moral responsibility.
Speaking at the Pontifical Mass, Bishop Bibi cautioned students against neglecting lectures and wasting time in entertainment. “If your parents can pay your fees to give you the opportunity to study, and you don’t come for lectures or come late, you miss a lot,” he said, urging them to avoid any distractions that could undermine their studies.
The Bishop highlighted curiosity and faithfulness as essential virtues. “Be curious to succeed. Be faithful to God, your studies, and your teachers’ instructions. Only by being faithful will you be fruitful and successful,” he stressed. He also warned against harmful behaviors such as drug use and distracting relationships.
Following the Mass, the academic session formally inducted the freshmen into CUIB’s holistic education system, which emphasizes academic excellence, moral formation, and entrepreneurship. The ceremony also marked the transition of last year’s freshmen into their sophomore year, beginning their specialization in various fields.
A freshman, after taking the convocation oath, expressed excitement about joining CUIB. “It is a prestigious university where integral formation is a core concern. I will respect the rules, apply myself to my studies, and take the President’s advice on punctuality seriously,” the student said.
Rev. Fr. Bartolomew Anyangwu, President of CUIB, welcomed the students and thanked their parents and sponsors. He emphasized the university’s commitment to helping students grow academically and personally, while expecting them to be disciplined and committed to becoming the best versions of themselves.
The convocation reaffirmed CUIB’s mission of forming Saints and Scholars who are academically grounded, morally upright, and ready to impact their communities positively.
