CAMEROON PEOPLE -EDUCATION - Why Bafut is the best location for Bamenda University

When the idea of a Bamenda University was being seriously considered, various studies were conducted which concluded that the location should be in Bafut. Below are some of the points that made Bafut the seat of the Bamenda University:

Population

Bafut is the largest village in the North West after Bansoh with a population of over 125,000 people. In land area it is also the largest or at least second largest. The studies concluded that the University should be sited where the people are and within the immediate Bamenda area, Bafut was the most populous village hence its choice for the location of the University.

Security

With thieves parading Buea, stealing and raping university girls, security was of paramount importance in the studies. Bafut again came top and this is one of the major factors why Bafut was chosen. The new Military camp is at the entrance to Bafut hence providing security. Secondly, there are almost 700 Soldiers in the airport in Bafut also helping in security. There was no other neighbouring area with so much concentration of uniformed personnel hence the choice of Bafut as the seat of the University.

Communication

Bafut again scored top in communication. There is a tarred road to Bafut and also there is an airport. With land and air transport, only Bali could compare with Bafut on this item but the airport in Bali is presently hardly functional hence Bafut was given higher marks here.

Proximity to Bamenda Centre.

Bafut again was amongst the stop scorers here again because it is only like 10 to 15 minutes drive from Bafut to say Ntarikon hence it is even possible for some students to stay in Bamenda central and attend classes in Bafut.

Synergy and Agglomeration Economics

On this item. Bafut and Bambili scored high. Bafut already has about 4 government secondary/technical schools, a Catholic school (St Albert), PSS Bafut, COTECC, Catholic Girls school in Mambuh, etc etc. AS Buea has the Buluh Blind centre, Bafut also has SATORGA which is a handicap centre for the blind and others.

Bambili has CCAST, Agro, Ecole Normale and a Teachers technical school and there is much synergy but it was decided against Bambili because the plan was not just to turn Ecole Normal into a University but to create a different university for it to evolve independently of Ecole Normal as is the case in Yaounde hence Bambili was not favoured on this point.

Local Cooperation

There was indication that the local Fon and chiefs in many of the areas were cooperative. Indications were that the Fon of Bafut has already allocated land for the University hence government does not need to purchase land for the permanent site.

Tourism
In terms of the contribution of the area to the local economy, the reports realised that the Bafut Palace is the most attractive touristic site in the NorthWest and most tourists insist of visiting it when they come hence the location of Bafut was favoured.

The Mentcum Factor

The reports also noted that in the long run the Mentchum dam will have to be built and that will open up the area significantly and Bafut is the get way to Mentchum. In fact it noted that Bafut actually has a boundary not far from the Mentchum falls itself.

Temporal Location

Various temporal locations were considered but the Albert Foundation in Bafut as a temporal location is unrivalled. It has a vast estate, it has a great fence, it has structures in place including tennis courts for students, buildings for administration and students etc etc. The Estate is owned by a Foundation but there was indications that they were willing to allow the premises as a temporal seat of the Bamenda Universty.

AMATTA MUNA FACTOR

Amatta Muna lobbied for the Bamenda University to be located in Nguembo/Mbengwi with the claim that his father fought for the unity of the country and all they have is a prison. Despite her insistence, there was hardly any synergy between a university and a prison, the road to Mbengwi is not tarred, the location is far from Bamenda, small population etc etc.

After much attempt, Amatta Muna finally withdraw her objections and left Bafut as the favoured location.

Achiri Achu Factor

Once intelligence reports indicated that a university was to be created in Bamenda, Achiri Achu tried to corner the university to Santa. He realised the advantages of Bafut as highlighted in various reports so to sabotage Bafut, he had to act fast. He secretly got an Architect to do some preliminary sketches claiming that it is for the Bamenda University (private individuals designing a government university is strange) and got a local chief in the Santa area to also claim that there is land for the University to be located there.

When the factors militating against Santa were highlighted to him and the locational advantages of Bafut were shown, it appears he finally backed down and gave his blessings for Bafut as the location of the University.

In conclusion it can be said that without a major politician conniving to their advantage, Bafut was lucky that they are blessed with natural factors but we must still congratulate them for hosting the University for the whole North West Province and beyond.

Tumasang

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