Says institution’s innovative curriculum will train unique professionals
The government of Cameroon, through the Chief of Bureau for Administrative, Judicial and Political Affairs at the Divisional Officer’s office in Buea has hailed Rainbow Higher Institute of Applied Microfinance Management (RHIAM) for the institution’s innovative curriculum, stating that it will produce best trained personnel for job market.
This was during a colourful event that brought together the management and stakeholders of the Rainbowcam Network of Credit Unions to unveil their vision to train ethical, skilled and qualified personnel to power the sector in a professional manner.
This was the driving force behind the launch of the Rainbow Higher Institute of Applied Microfinance Management, RHIAM, in Buea, on Saturday February 7, 2026.
Gov’t (R) representative welcomed by GM of Mmockmbie Credit Union (L)
The new institution is the result of hard work and commitment by the management and board of Rainbowcam and its affiliates, to meet a critical need in the microfinance sector in Cameroon and the CEMAC Subregion in general. It is the brainchild of five affiliates of Rainbowcam: NtaCCUL, BafCCUL, MmoCCUL, Aicco Finance, 3DC Finance and Rainbowcam.
The institution has eight departments: Applied MFI management, Applied Business Management, Applied Management, Law, Applied Agriculture and Food Science, Applied Education, Applied Computer Engineering and Applied Mechanical Engineering.
According to Christian Tanyi, the Chairman of the Management Board of RHIAM, training at the institution would be 35% modular class work for four months and six months of practical experience in a microfinance institution and 10% solutions-oriented training costing 725,000 FCFA.
Fon Angwafo IV, Board Chairman of Rainbowcam addressing stakeholders
The different programmes will run for twelve months, open to student with HND, Bachelor’s degree, Masters in Business Administration, MBA, or higher certifications in specialised fields such as; Accountancy, Banking & Finance, Business Management, Human Resource Management, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Marketing and other disciplines. The trainers are not just academics, but also industry experts to ensure their certificates are both academically up to standards, while meeting industry expectations.
Addressing stakeholders during the ceremony, Fo Angwafo IV of Mankon, who doubles as the Board Chairman of Rainbowcam, said the launch was a milestone in the institution’s mission to drive economic growth, reduce unemployment and promote financial inclusion in Cameroon.
He added that the new institution supports the broader vision of Rainbowcam and its affiliates to create a more inclusive financial system where every microfinance institution provides innovative financial solutions to its customers with the best staff.
“The institution is a key component of a broader strategy to build capacity and promote excellence in the microfinance sector by providing graduates with hands on training, mentorship, and practical experience in microfinance operations,” he said.
With such an institution, the microfinance sector in Cameroon will have a steady pool of skilled professionals who can drive growth and innovation in the microfinance sector, thus contributing to the economic development of Cameroon.
Cutting of inauguration ribbon by Gov’t representative assisted by Board-chair and members
The programmes are tailored to meet the needs of the microfinance industry by drawing on the expertise of professionals and industry experts to deliver high quality training with practical skills in areas such as credit management, risk management and financial analysis, amongst others.
Concrete innovative response to Head of State’s employment drive
Addressing guests and vote holders of the institution during the launching ceremony, Juru Obedian, the Chief of Bureau for Administrative, Judicial and Political Affairs at the Divisional Officer’s office in Buea, said microfinance institutions play a critical role in economic empowerments. She added that they support low-income households, women, youth, and protect their livelihood by emphasising inclusive development and shared prosperity.
Such a move, she said, aligns fully with the vision of the Head of State.
“The establishment of this institution is a concrete and innovative response to that call for the creation of more opportunities for women and young people by investing in practical job readiness skills,” Obedian noted.
In this light, she expressed optimism that the institution will produce qualified candidates for the job market.
“The institution will fill the gaps in the microfinance and banking sector by producing professionals with theoretical and practical skills, thus the need for members of the Rainbowcam Network of Credit Unions to actively employ the graduates of this institution and support its long-term success,” she stated.
Board members of Rainbowcam during the ceremony
Speaking to the press at the end of the programme, Christian Tanyi, said the drive behind the new institution was to ensure that more microfinance institutions are sustainable. He decried the fact that even microfinance institutions with good visions die because the staff are not up to standards.
Most universities, he said, produce graduates with ‘paper’ qualification, but lagging behind in terms of practical knowledge and their ability to put knowledge into practice.
General Managers of affiliate credit unions
“The industry requires that we recruit the staff who should start delivering on day one, but each time the microfinance sector recruits and manages to train, the workers migrate into category 2 microfinance institutions and before the category 2 celebrate that they have a good staff, they migrate into the main banks,” he lamented.
The General Manager of Rainbowcam, Madam Bih Rose Fru stated that RHIAM will be giving opportunities to the first 100 students who will apply considering that they can’t take more than 100.
