University of Yaounde 1: New Rector, New Look

Since Professor Rémy Magloire Dieudonné Etoua succeeded Maurice Aurélien Sosso as the head of the University of Yaoundé 1 in 2024, the Ngoa-Ekellé campus has undergone high-level innovations that are setting new standards for the institution.

The formally abandoned building opposite the Restaurant N⁰ 2 has been renovated and turned to a hostel – Author

Campus-Wide Renovations

Starting in 2024, extensive renovation projects—including repainting, structural repairs, and the construction of new facilities—have defined the campus landscape. The major highlights include:

Learning Environments: Classrooms have been repainted and benches rearranged to prioritize student comfort.

Infrastructure Recovery: Previously abandoned buildings have been fully repaired and repurposed as student hostels.

Wayfinding: Directional signboards throughout the campus have been renewed to help students and visitors navigate more easily.

Logistics & Aesthetics: In a strategic reorganization, all restaurants and food vendors were relocated toward the school hostels, clearing the area around Amphitheatre 300.

The new look of the University’s main entrance – photo credit, University of Yaounde 1

Improved Accessibility

The university’s physical borders and entry points have also seen significant upgrades:

The CHU Entrance: The entrance near the University Teaching Hospital of Yaounde, (CHU) mortuary has been fixed and outfitted with a new gate, streamlining the flow of vehicular traffic.

The Main Gate: The main entrance to the university received a major facelift, significantly enhancing the campus’s first impression.

Roadworks: Internal roads have been freshly tarred and marked with new road paint.

The Glass House: A thorough cleaning and restoration of the famous Ngoa-Ekellé Glass House was successfully completed last year.

Building under construction at the Faculty of Science of Education – Author

Ongoing Projects

The campus is currently buzzing with construction activity as several major projects approach completion.

The most significant project is the new building at the Faculty of Science of Education. Yousouf Abdoulaye, a Senior Technician at the site, reports steady progress:
« We have completed 90% of the job. Only 10% remains, which involves painting and tiling. »

The structure is 90% complete – Author

If work continues at this pace, the building is expected to be ready for use as classrooms and administrative offices within three months.

The building formerly housing the Faculty of Economics and Management, located near the IFORD block, is being transformed into a modern hub for lecture halls and offices.

Building undoing transformation to host administrative offices – Author

Adjacent to Restaurant No. 2, the Geometry Hall is also receiving a facelift. Modern painting is already visible, and interior renovations are progressing rapidly.

Geometry hall receiving a new look – Author

Through these comprehensive past and current works, the Rector is ensuring that the University of Yaoundé 1 attains the physical stature it deserves as a premier educational institution in Cameroon and Sub-Saharan Africa.

By Ndifon Anna Ting