By Walter Wilson Nana
A book; Cameroon: A Country At Crises Crossroads – An Anthology In The Social Sciences is now available in the market. The Launch took place at the Amphi 750 of the University of Buea, UB, Friday, July 13 2012.
The 562-page document, edited by Professor of Geography, Cornelius Mbifung Lambi and written by twenty-five scholars, from various academic backgrounds in UB, details some of the worrying issues in Cameroon.
Prof. Lambi (R) receives an award from Prof. Martha Tumnde, Dean, Faculty of Social & Management Sciences, University of Buea
In his review, Dr. Henry Kah Jick from the Faculty of Arts, UB, said from the title of the aforementioned book, Cameroon is in a dilemma; a society of oppressed and downtrodden people. To him, Cameroon is going through a critical point in her society, so, there is anxiety in her future.
The varsity don mentioned that Cameroon is going through many crises. These included; economic crises, environmental management, irregular forest exploitation, confusing systems of laws, inaccessibility to justice, dynamics of political change, the Anglophone problem, hate journalism, corruption and unemployment.
According to the Editor of Cameroon: A Country At Crises Crossroads – An Anthology In The Social Sciences, Prof. Lambi, his team was inspired from the paradox that a large portion of Cameroonians are suffering in the midst of plenty, especially the natural endowments. He expressed worry that despite the numerous resources in the country, in all facets, there is not much to show about. “I’m indicting all Cameroonians for the economic downturn and the crises we are experiencing. We can’t single out individuals, for we’ve collectively brought down our country,” he said.
Prof. Lambi said each chapter in the book addresses some problems, they are contributions to learning and proffers some solutions, one of them being the Asian Tiger kind-of-economy for Cameroon.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, VC of UB, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Research, Cooperations and Relations with the Business World, Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh, expressed appreciation to Prof. Lambi for the work done, while highlighting his (Lambi) academic prowess.
Prof. Ngoh said Prof. Lambi is an epitome of the university tripod – teaching, research and outreach.
The Chief Launcher of the day, El Hadj Baba Amadou Danpullo, the President, Board of Directors, Cameroon Tea Estate, CTE, opened the launch with FCFA 1 Million, while enjoining Cameroonian scholars to be at the fore of the country’s development in all perspectives. His views will be corroborated by the Nigerian Consul General to the Southwest and Northwest Regions of Cameroon, H.E Mohammed Akan, who chipped in FCFA 300,000.
The Editor
Prof. Lambi is a renown scholar of geography and environmental studies. He was born in Babungo, Ndop in the Ngoketunjia Division, Northwest Region, Cameroon.
After his secondary education at Cameroon Protestant College, CPC, Bali and high school at Cameroon College of Arts, Science & Technology, CCAST, Bambili, between 1962 and 1968, he obtained the GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels Certificates. He will proceed to the Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone in Freetown, where he graduated with a BSc in Geology and Geography in 1972 and MSc in Geography, with specialisation in Geomorphology in 1975.
Back to Cameroon in 1976, he began teaching at the then University of Yaoundé.
1986, he will gain admission to do his PhD in the University of Salford, Lancashire, England, where he graduated in 1990.
On his return to Cameroon, Dr. Lambi was mandated to create the Department of Geography in the Faculty of Social & Management Sciences, FSMS, UB, following the 1993 University Reforms in Cameroon. Seven years after, he will be appointed as the Dean of FSMS, a position he held from 1997 to September 2005, when a Presidential Decree catapulted him to the office of the VC of UB.
2007, he will be relieved as the VC of UB. The Vice Chancellor Emeritus is a fellow of several learned societies and Editor-In-Chief of some international and academic journals.
Prof. Lambi has also had temporary teaching and research positions in several institutions at home and abroad. He is the principal investigator of the Cameroon Environmental & Disaster Research Centre in UB.
Currently, he is supervising six doctoral students on their PhD theses. Before now, he has supervised thirty-six Master’s theses and fourteen PhD theses.
Prof. Lambi, described by his contemporaries as an academic reference in Geography and Geomorphology in Cameroon, has to his credit seventy-three publications in academic journals, conference proceedings and book chapters. He is the author of two books and editor of four others, including the just launched Cameroon: A Country At Crises Crossroads – An Anthology In The Social Sciences.
The ceremony was emceed by The Post’s Editor-In-Chief, Charles Ndi Chia.
