Francisca Hongla epse Biaka is a rare and classy woman. She is a noted entrepreuneur, administrator and philantropist.
In 2018, this Cameroonian woman of great value was conferred the Hononary Degree of Doctor of the Unver-sity (Honoris causa) by the University of Essex (UK), for her valuable contributions to humanity.
Dr.Mrs Biaka is a metarphor of radiance, an eloquence of diction and a poetry of imagination. Yet, she maintains a low profile.
She is the CEO of St Veronica Medical Centre which comprises St Veronica Polyclinic and Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB).
This widowed mother of four is a committed Catholic christian.
Born in 1961, in the then Victoria, South West Region of Cameroon, she attend-ed Saker Baptist College (1979 Batch), and later travelled to England. She re-turned to Cameroon in 1986 when her father died and took over his compa-ny,PAN ELECTRIC ENTERPRISE LTD, and served as its Chairman/CEO.
Dr. Mrs. Biaka has dedicated her life and career to the education of society by impacting positive changes in Cameroon.
BUIB , which she heads, was founded in 1998 by her late husband, Dr Lawrence Francis Tonye Biaka. It was then known as St Francis School of Nursing and Midwifery for the training of nurses. She took over its management when her husband died in 2014.
Under her able leadership, St Francis School of Nursing and Midwifery became Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB) in 2016.
BUIB is now a premier higher education institution with three schools: School of Health Sciences, School of Management Sciences and School of Education.
It offers undergraduate and postgraduate studies, ensuring high standards of healthcare, manage-ment and professional training – based on the philosophy of empowerment and social accountability. The university seeks to provide specialized skills to meet the everrising needs of the labour market.
Dr. Mrs. Biaka‘s love for personnel development trig-gered her to introduce a self development policy . This policy has expanded the educational horizons for many, allowing the staff to work while at the same time furthering their studies. This policy has caused many lecturers of BUIB to obtain Master‘s and PhD degrees as well as other professional certificates.
Given the outstanding achievements of this role model in Cameroon and beyond, AFRICA EXCELLENCE editor, Linda Mbacham Tajocha, sat down for an exclusive interview with her in the latter‘s BUIB‘s office.
Q: Dr Mrs. Biaka ,what is the mission of Biaka University Institute of Buea?
Our mission is to empower individuals to achieve maximum capacity through the provision of quality education at all levels. We also aim to equip students with specific professional , entrepreurial and technological skills needed to meet the challenges of the world and their changing needs. We promote excellence in diversity , gender equality and create opportunities that will yield pratical results and encourage self-reliance.
Q: BUIB runs three schools. Are there plans underway to increase the number of schools and programmes?
Yes, but the School of Education has not taken off yet.
We plan to add schools such as IT and Engineering ; we are working with our partner universities out of the country to make this happen . In order for us to have such technical training here, we must have adequate equipment, proper infrastructure and all needed to give our students quality training. We do not want to rush over this.
Q: How would you present Biaka Hospital to the public?
It is a centre, Saint Veronica Medical Centre -which includes Saint Veronica Polyclinic. We call it Saint Veronica Polyclinic because we didn‘t want it to be limited to mother / childcare, as the late founder who was a gynaecologist and obstetrician had intended. Today, the hospital is open to all and sundry. People go there daily for consultation and treatment.
Q: BUIB‘s slogan is “The Audacity to be Different.” How different is BUIB from other such institutions?
From our humble beginning , we started with about 6 students in 1998 . We have come a long way. We do our things differently. First of all, we are purpose-built. If you look at the campus, [we have well-designed infrastructure] .We did not just transform a house into a school. And the way we train our students is also different.We do a lot of in-house training. Our first year students do on-campus training before they go out. They practise on standardized patients. We have a simulation centre meant for that. You can get anyone from the streets to come and act as a patient. It is done professionally. We drill them the whole year and that is quite different from what our colleagues out there do. We do global classrooms with Drexel our partner university abroad and we have lecturers who teach our students. They are on our payroll but they are out of the country.The list is inexhaustive and all this makes us to boldly say the ‚“Audacity to be Different“ . We do the right things differently,with excellent results.
Q: Compared to other priavate medical institutes, do you think BUIB is already a success story?
Biaka Univeristy is a success story ! If I say it isn‘t then I am not grateful to God.
Q: In 2020, BUIB signed a post-graduate mentorship agreement with the University of Buea(UB). How is the relationship between the two institutions?
I would say it is successful in the sense that UB plays its part and we do ours. Every relationship has its ups and downs ,but we are learning. The University of Buea is the mentor and we are the mentee. [I suggest ], you should ask the University of Buea whether or not they are happy with what we are doing.
Q: You are an important employer. What is your staff strength?
In this complex ,we have about 120 full-time workers and over 60 part-time workers.
BUSINESS CREDENTIALS
Dr. Mrs.BIAKA holds :
- Master of Business Administration from the University of Buea ( 2014-2016)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Administration and Finance from Hammersmith & West London Col-lege ,United Kingdom(1985-1886)
- Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance (H.N.D) (1981-1983)
- Ordinary National Diploma in Business and Finance (O.N.D)
WOMAN OF MANY HATS
Apart from being the Chief Administrator of BUIB, Dr. Mrs.BIAKA has other state responsibilities, which she performs to the satisfaction of the public and hierarchy. Presently, she is the Southwest Regional Delegate of the Chamber of Commerce.With her leadership, the business community of the region is said to be more organized and focused. She, together with her team, has succeeded to boost and sustain the competitiveness of the Southwest enterprise sector in the face of national and global challenges.
She is the 1st Vice President of Cameroon Women Business Leaders Association (CWBLA).
Focused and committed, this trail blazer has won numerous national and international awards in recognition of her works.
“I have quite some awards that I don‘t even know what to call myself anymore ‚”she tells AFRICA EXCELLENCE.
HER AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
They include:
- Recognition as HealthCare Educationist to Youth by Adele Reproductive Health Centre (June 2005)
- Medalist , Silver Guild and Silver Labour Medals (November 2008)
- Holder of FCEM/GFAC Best Female Entrepreneur Award (October 2009)
- Medalist, Cameroon Knight of the Order of Valour (May 2010)
- Humanitarian Award from HOTPEC Orphanage Mile 14-Buea (2013)
- Medalist, Cameroon Officer of the Order of Valour (May 2016)
- Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University (Honoris causa) by the University of Essex (UK),2018
- Leadership Initiative Award in Advancement in Education (October 2020) Commander of the Order of Valour (May 2021)
THE PHILANTHROPIST
Dr.Mrs.Biaka is considered a great humanitarian. Her philantropic activities speak volumes. She is an ardent supporter of the empowerment of widows. According to Dr.Mrs. Biaka: ‘‘We formed a group of over 200 widows. I realised that unlike me, a good number of widows were still suffering from self pity““[I have been advising them] to stop begging and feeling sorry for themselves. They have to [wake up ] since they have responsibilities. They have kids and shouldn‘t think someone will come and take care of them. They can only take care of their kids when they gain financial independence ‘‘. In order to receive support from this philanthropist ,she notes, widows must be engaged in an economic activity no matter how small it may be. Dr. Mrs. Biaka has assisted the Council by installing traffic at Biaka Junction. “There are so many things I have done [{but I cannot recall all now ],“ she points out.
HER SUCCESS SECRETS
Dr. Mrs.Biaka Reveals: ‘‘ Anything you want ,go for it. If you set your mind on it, do it . Age is just a number and shouldn‘t limit you.
In education, I try as much as possible to encourage young people. When I enrolled for my MBA, I was in class with my children. They were all calling me mummy. I left school 28 years ago, and so when they felt like giving up, I asked if they were busier than me. So if I want something, I work for it. I encourage those around me not to give up. I don‘t say I am tired or old. I am not old. I shall turn 60 soon.
I urge young girls to emulate my example. Young girls shouldn‘t wait for someone else‘s money.There is joy in spending your own money. When you work hard , you see your success, you spend your money judiciously and it is fulfilling. Another seceret is that, I trust my maker. Before doing anything I take it to God and by so doing I know I will succeed.
MISCONCEPTION ABOUT DR. MRS BIAKA
Some people think Dr.Mrs. Biaka ‘s charity is intended to get a position in Government.
But she insists, “I don‘t want a post in the Government. I love the life I am living here now. Whatever I do is from the bottom of my heart and I do not expect a reward ,as I do it to serve humanity. There are things I have done in Cameroon which have been recognised out of the country. I couldn‘t possibly have bribed a whiteman to receive that award. One of the awards I received was signed by John Bercow, Chancellor of the Unversity of Essex, who used to be the Speaker of the House of Commons in England.This tells us that when we do something wholeheartedly, somebody somewhere will recognize us. But when you do things because you want to be recognized, nobody will notice you.“
Q: What else would you like the public to know about your institution?
We wish to reiterate that, we have a dedicated team of professional staff. Our educators are committed, experienced and academically sound. We offer quality training to our students.
Q: How do you spend your leisure time?
When I get home from my office , I watch one or two soaps ; I like reading and writing . I‘m writing a book, which has been given out for review. When there are parties, ceremonies or funerals I do attend but my typical day is leaving the office and going home.
Q: Your favourite meal?
Porridge cocoyams. I also love beans.
