Dr. Bailack Proposes Solutions To Land Based Resource Conflicts In Record Breaking PhD Defense

Dr.Bailack

By Sah Terence Animbom.

Recent inter tribal conflicts in the North West Region of Cameroon have been linked to issues of land based resource management policies. Poor management strategies, non involvement of community stakeholders in major decision making processes as well as administrative laxity and complecency have been identified as some of the major causes of conflicts and environmental hazards in the region.

Defending a PhD thesis titled "Geographical considerations and management of land based resources in Bui Division "on Tuesday August 9, at the University of Bamenda, Bailack Kevin Mbuh, now Dr. Bailack exrayed the land based resource management systems in the country while proposing effective conflict management strategies in land based resource management. He proposes the holistic approach to conflict management, an approach that places the indigenous populations at the centre of the exercise.

Dr. Bailack Defend His Thesis

To him, conflicts can be greatly reduced when locals take ownership of their land and are effectively educated on sustainable land usage.

 We have had serious land disputes in Bui Division like the Oku Mbessa land crisis that turned into a tribal conflict killing several people and destroying several property. Such conflicts are not peculiar to Bui Division only. There is the Hausa Aghem crisis in Menchum division now that has so far caused several deaths. No need stressing that the background of such a conflict is stemming from issues of land based resource management. We can go on to site Boyo division and Ndu sub division in Donga Mantung which have all had such crisis, Dr. Bailack indicated after his defense at the University of Bamenda.

We cannot also completely forget about the traditional and cultural setups we already had in place to manage land based resource usage. We should revisit them and see how to make the most of them. Government needs to empower locals because very often, poverty is the cause of conflict. The community must not continue to feel sidelined. He added.

It is worth noting that Bailack Kevin Mbuh is one of the few PhD candidates to defend his thesis in only three years, a situation that is not very common in universities in the country as many persons do it in four or five years. Reacting to this, Dr. Bailack said, 

It feels very fulfilling to be able to defend my PhD in only three years. This is testimony to the fact that the University of Bamenda rewards hard work. 

He was the only candidate among five Candidates in the department of Geography and planning to defend his thesis within such a short period. He was awarded the grade excellent.

Dr. Bailack is set to create impact in the community by engaging in policy advocacy and imparting knowledge to bring about effective development in the field of land based resource management.

His panel was made up of Prof Tsi Evaristus Angwafor as the chairman, Prof Mbanga Lawrence A. as rapporteur, and as members; Prof Kah Elvis Fang, Prof Forgwe Zephania Nji, and Prof Cheo Victor who represented Prof Kometa Sunday Shende.

Members Of The Panel