University strikes partnership with African World Cup hero

Vulnerable children in West Africa will benefit from a new IT facility provided by the University of Wolverhampton.

The University has joined forces with former Cameroon international footballer Roger Milla to open a new Multimedia Centre in Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital.

He became globally known after scoring four goals in the 1990 World Cup in Italy and helping his team reach the quarter finals, the furthest an African nation has got.

He also holds the record for the oldest player and goal scorer in a World Cup when he appeared in at USA 94 at the age of 42.

Milla, now 61, has retired but has set up a foundation, Coeur d’Afrique to help under-privileged children in his homeland.

The centre will help promote English language and ICT skills and will give children from disadvantaged backgrounds free access.

The University has built up close links with Cameroon and in the last three years has recruited more than 120 students from the country.

Professor Ndy Ekere, Dean of the University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “We’re proud to be able to help provide these facilities to help children who may not normally have access to this type of equipment and learning.

“We have close links in Cameroon and Roger is a national hero plus his work helping children and acting as an ambassador is well known.

“This is very much the start of what we hope will be a very successful and fruitful partnership and it could include the possibility of one of two scholarships being in the future.”

Ghislain Defo, an Education Advisor in the University’s International Centre, help set up the partnership.

He said: “We do a lot of work in this part of the world and it is very satisfying to see the project come to fruition.

“I will be working closely with the foundation in Cameroon to help the centre be a success.”

Two members of staff from the foundation along with Mr Milla are due to visit Wolverhampton early next year.

ENDS

For more information please contact James Allen in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322003.

Date Issued: Wednesday 4 December 2013

Pciture: Roger Milla (centre-left) and Professor Ndy Ekere (centre right) with representatives from the University of Wolverhampton and the Roger Milla Foundation.