Dr. Jem Spectar Inaugurated as President of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

By Lloney Monono (Originally published in The Sun)

"I am confident that students from this institution under the guidance of Dr. Jem Spectar will make a substantial and positive difference to the world" - Nobel Peace Prize Winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu (click here for video message)

Dr. Jem Spectar who hails from Buea at the foot of Mt. Fako, South West Cameroon, was on Friday 28th September  installed as the 5th President of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in the United States.

Friday's inauguration at the Pasquerilla Centre highlighted a week of festivities to welcome the new president and to mark the university's 80th birthday.

Dr. Jem Spectar is a SHESAN and those who met him in CCAST Bambili will find his current position befitting. They will also share the view of Chancellor Mark Nordenberg of Pittsburgh University, who chaired the occasion, that Jem Spectar is an outstanding scholar and administrator.

In his hour long inaugural speech Dr. Jem Spectar was keen to foster the link between UPJ and the Johnstown community. Craving the indulgence of attendees for a lengthy presentation he enjoined his staff to work with him to remain custodians of the legacy of learning handed down the generations. While pledging a new era and new dimension of excellence for the university, he promised to retain the university's high quality programs in both the arts and sciences.

The new president who had actually taken office some three months earlier, urged UPJ to be relentless in the quest for knowledge and truth, urging them never to shy away from engaging in critical thinking and quantitative reasoning or research.

He stressed there was a great sense of urgency in seeking a direction and a reassessment of strategic priorities. 'The next step' according to Dr. Jem Spectar was one fraught with challenges brought about by a confluence of technology and change in the global economic environment. Thus the president called on his staff work with him to create a new paradigm of excellence so that the young men and women graduating from UPJ will be ready for the 'real world'.

Dr. Jem Spectar was ambitious in his plans but found comfort in the resilience of the UPJ and the Johnstown community. He promised an abundance of ideas, keenly stressing that during his tenure he will foster not only an academically superior university but a vibrant and socially enriching campus that will ensure better paid job placements for UPJ graduates.

In finishing, he reminded his staff that they will be judged on how well prepared students were for the world outside UPJ. Thus he cautioned them not to tire or give up hope in face of difficulties during that journey striving towards excellence. Complacency, he declared was the enemy and called on all to resist the comforting urges of inertia and join him in passing on the inheritance of learning. 'The stakes are high' he said and reiterated that time was critical in sowing seeds of hope and mental liberation.

A standing ovation greeted his acceptance of the nomination and as attendees left the amphitheatre, there were accolades of congratulations to the family of Rtd. Justice and Mrs. Eyole-Monono who were there to witness and support the inauguration of their son and brother.

Fako and Cameroon are proud to be associated with such excellence and in the words of Desmond Tutu, who like President Ellen Johnson of Liberia and former President Bill Clinton sent a congratulatory message to the nascent president, The Sun Cameroon says ‘Go for it!’.

Click here for a multimedia news release of the inauguration of Jem Spectar