In an exclusive interview granted to My Media Prime Television on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Prof. Victor Mbarika, President of the Board of Trustees of ICT University and internationally recognized ICT consultant, addressed mounting controversy surrounding his institution’s mentorship arrangement with the University of Buea.
The wide-ranging one-hour interview touched on questions of legality, accreditation, mentorship agreements, financial obligations, and what Prof. Mbarika described as “a clash of personalities” rather than an institutional conflict.
Foundation or Fully-Fledged University?
At the outset, Prof. Mbarika dismissed claims circulating on social media suggesting that ICT University is merely a foundation and not a recognized university. According to him, the confusion stems from misunderstanding the distinction between the ICT University Foundation, a U.S.-registered nonprofit entity (501c3) that supports research, endowments, and academic initiatives and the operational university campus in Cameroon.
“The Foundation has nothing to do with the academic legality of the University in Cameroon,” he explained, adding that the Cameroonian campus is duly authorized and accredited by the government.
He noted that authorization to create the university was granted in 2012, with authorization to operate following in 2014. ICT University functioned independently as a private institution until 2023, when it entered into a mentorship arrangement with the University of Buea, following advice from the Ministry of Higher Education.
The Mentorship Agreement: Where It Stands
The heart of the dispute revolves around the scope of the mentorship agreement signed in 2023.
Journalists referenced a communiqué from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Prof. Ngomo Horace Manga, indicating that the agreement covered Bachelor’s, Master’s, and MBA programs not PhDs.
Prof. Mbarika argued that ICT University had already been offering PhD programs for over a decade prior to the mentorship arrangement and had enrolled students including government scholarship beneficiaries during that period.
He declined to disclose specific government correspondence regarding PhD recognition but insisted that the programs were legitimate and previously authorized. “There is no problem with our PhD programs,” he stated. “The government has placed students in them.”
Financial Disagreements and Certificate Delays
A major flashpoint has been allegations that ICT University failed to pay the required registration fees to the University of Buea for certificate processing in 2024 and 2025.
Prof. Mbarika strongly denied owing unpaid fees, asserting that his institution has transferred “well over 50 million CFA francs” to the University of Buea in the past 20 months.
He described as “false” claims that ICT University requested an exemption from payment. Instead, he argued that the fees demanded were excessive reportedly close to 250 million CFA francs and unfair to students. “It is not right for our students to pay full ICT University fees and then be charged state university fees again,” he said.
He further alleged that certain individuals within the University of Buea administration were deliberately withholding certificates and transcripts, though he maintained that dialogue between the institutions remains ongoing.
Personal Tensions and Institutional Respect
While careful to separate the institution from specific administrators, Prof. Mbarika acknowledged strained relations with certain individuals within the University of Buea’s current leadership. “I respect the University of Buea. We have worked with great leaders there in the past,” he said, citing former administrators. “Our issue is with a few individuals.”
The professor repeatedly emphasized his international academic credentials, including over 300 publications and recognition abroad, asserting that he expects mutual respect in dealings with Cameroonian counterparts.
Government Backing and International Recognition
Prof. Mbarika credited the administration of President Paul Biya for supporting ICT University’s growth. He also mentioned that former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo had previously attended an ICT University graduation ceremony at his invitation.
On the international stage, he referenced receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award during the presidency of Joe Biden, describing it as a significant milestone in his career. He argued that such recognition reflects ICT University’s global partnerships and legitimacy.
Vision Beyond the Dispute
Beyond the controversy, Prof. Mbarika outlined ambitious plans for expansion, including an ICT-driven healthcare institution along the Bamenda-Mbengwi road and a digital agriculture initiative projected to create up to 10,000 jobs within five years.
He reiterated his commitment to investing billions of CFA francs into Cameroon’s economy, particularly in robotics, artificial intelligence, and agricultural innovation. “To those in the diaspora who are discouraged,” he said, “Cameroon is tough, but it is possible. There are a few bad apples, but there is strong support at the highest levels.”
Dialogue or Breakdown?
Despite the heated rhetoric, Prof. Mbarika confirmed that negotiations between ICT University and the University of Buea are ongoing. Senior administrators from ICT University recently met UB officials in Buea for discussions, he revealed.
However, he responded defiantly to suggestions that the mentorship agreement could be reviewed or terminated.
“If they choose to terminate it, that is their decision,” he said. “ICT University is bigger than this disagreement.”
A Larger Debate in Higher Education
The dispute has reignited broader conversations about the mentorship framework governing private universities in Cameroon a system some critics argue requires reform to foster collaboration rather than tension.
As Cameroon moves toward its Vision 2035 development goals, questions remain about how public and private institutions can coexist constructively to advance higher education, technological innovation, and youth employment.
For now, the ICT University University of Buea saga continues to unfold a complex intersection of policy, personality, power, and the future of private higher education in Cameroon.
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