A collective of disgruntled South West Chiefs have addressed a letter to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Ngomo Horace Manga, on the proposed plan to open a University of Buea annex campus in Akonolinga, in the Center Region.
“We the Chiefs of the South West Region learned with utter consternation the request for an annex of the University of Buea to be opened in Akonolinga,” they wrote.
In the letter sent to UB’s Vice Chancellor, the chiefs used the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction at the inattention given to their request for annex institutions in various Divisions of the South West Region.
Putting forth an argument of seeking to promote the Anglo-Saxon educational system above all, the South West Chiefs in the letter pointed out that the admission of French speaking students at the University of Buea is in an all-time high, and thus suggest taking the institution to Akonolinga will only serve to enhance that in disfavor of the predominantly English-speaking students.
The letter also suggested that the decision, if made concrete, would equally enhance the Anglophone Crisis further than it already is.
To this, the collective of South West Chiefs proposed a decongestion plan for the University of Buea whereby a number of Faculties would be established in various parts of the South-West Region. This they say would ensure mutual feeling of belonging amongst the divisions in the South West Region.
The proposed plan by the chiefs include:
1-To move the Faculty of Agriculture to Ekondo-Titi, in the Ndian Division
2- Faculties of Fisheries and Marine Studies to Limbe, Fako Division.
3- The Higher Teacher Training College to Bangem, Kupe Manenguba Division.
4- School of Mines and Geology to Mamfe, Manyu Division.
5- School of Pharmacy and Pharmacopeia to Menji, Lebialem Division.
6- Faculty of Engineering and Cyber Criminology to Kumba, Meme Division.