This study was an attempt to investigate types of French language interference in 113 English compositions written by the Francophone secondary school students of Ntem Division, Cameroon. Analyses and explications were afforded in an attempt to verify the Igpothesis that French, the second language of the subjects, interfered with their efforts to produce correct linguistic structures in English. The analyses revealed French interference at all the levels of language design, especially in the area of linguistic specifics where there is no one-to-one correspondence between French and English structures. Results of the statistical count showed that French language interference accounted for 51 percent of all the errors analyzed in the present study. Suggestions of a general nature were also provided for remedial pedagogy.

This study set out to evaluate the development potential of extractive sector corporate social investments (CSI) in Cameroon. It does this by evaluating the extent to which extractive companies effectively integrate CSI in their business operations and how this can be improved upon for more effective development outcomes in the country. The study premises that CSI can contribute to development but its activities will not always amount to just, balanced and sustainable development outcomes. To understand the extent to which it does, this study develops and applies a framework for determining the applicability and effectiveness of extractive sector CSI practices. The research followed an interpretivist philosophical orientation. A case study research strategy with the elements of a survey research was used. It also implemented a mixed research methods approach and relied on both primary and secondary data sources. The CSI evaluation process used documentary survey techniques and content analysis of corporate social responsibility-related documentation provided by extractive companies and other sector stakeholders. This was triangulated with an expert survey as well as a survey of major development organisations to understand the opinion of the external environment that should shape CSI practices. Results were analysed, discussed and synthesised using the front-end, mid-phase and back-end criteria for evaluating CSI integration. Findings show significant level of adherence to the discretionary idea of CSI among extractive firms working in Cameroon. This is due partly to growing social responsibility awareness among extractive firms around the world and the consequence of inaction. The greater majority of companies however, do not show strong proof of well thought out CSI implementation strategies. The feeling among experts is that extractive sector CSI in Cameroon is failing. It is predominantly self-regulated by extractive companies which raise questions regarding objective and credible CSI practices. The study concludes that CSI has been implemented in ad-hoc, haphazard and un-systematic ways. It has a viable potential to contribute to development but still suffers from a very weak CSI enabling environment as well as the challenges of sustainable development. Extractive sector CSI therefore, still needs to be significantly reworked to enhance its potential in contributing to just, balanced and sustainable development in Cameroon. It is recommended that an enabling environment be put in place through CSI promotional activities in the country.

The Kamerun Plebiscites of 1959-1961 were crucial to the rise and development of Western Kamerun nationalism. Some of the factors which shaped the events connected with that phenomenon can be traced' back to the pre-colonial period. Others emerged from the activities of the colonizers in the region during the colonial and trust period. But, it was against the British activities that a few Western-educated Southern Kamerunians, the political leaders, reacted and, in the 1940s, developed a nationalist movement. In 1953, these new leaders, who had made little headway in their demands of the British, involved the traditional leaders, the a-Fon, in the nationalist movement. The a-Fon who commanded the loyalty and support of most of the region's inhabitants, significantly strengthened and influenced the movement henceforth. During that crucial period, however, the movement witnessed several conflicts over policy regarding the future of Western Kamerun. In Northern Kamerun, the local authorities advocated integration with Nigeria while some dissident local Fulani and the a-Fon demanded secession from it. In Southern Kamerun, some political leaders stressed integration with Nigeria, others favoured secession from it and ultimate reunification of Kamerun, and, yet, others emphasized immediate secession and reunification. On the other hand, the a-Fon requested secession without reunification. Thus, there were fundamental differences among the political leaders and between them and the traditional rulers. During this period, the political leaders defined and redefined their varying programmes in an effort to win over the Crowned Princes who refused to budge. Realizing the firmness of the a-Fon, backed by massive support from the electorate, the organizers concentrated their efforts at the United Nations where they manipulated, confused, and engineered a split within its members. The division within the United Nations and among the organizers forced that organization to concentrate on reaching a compromise rather than finding out what the majority of the Western Kamerunians desired. The outcome of this approach was adverse decisions: in the case of Northern Kamerun, where the electorate, after the first plebiscite, had mistaken the reformed local administration for secession from Nigeria, the United Nations refused to postpone the second plebiscite, and, in the case of Southern Kamerun, it left out secession without reunification, the most popular view, from the plebiscite despite numerous appeals and protests from both regions. In the ensuing confusion in the North and dissatisfaction in the South, the electorate asked and answered their own questions at the plebiscites, interpreting the United Nations' questions to suit their local conditions and circumstances. This interpreting process was to be expected. In most plebiscites and elections, electors ask and answer their own questions, often with little reference to the larger issues, but the timing of the second plebiscite in the North and the unfortunate wording of the plebiscite questions in the context of politics in the South, contributed not only a good deal of confusion to the proceedings, but also significantly impeded the process of self-determination. Moreover, the conduct of the plebiscites, themselves, was characterized by the abuse of power by those interested groups in and out of authority, and by suspicion and accusation which were sometimes justifiable and sometimes not. Furthermore, the plebiscite undermined the Concert of the Crowned Princes, the symbol of Southern Kamerun unity, and left sections of the region standing at a distance from, and threatening, each other. Not only had the trust system ended in Western Kamerun on an uncertain note, but the United Nations had been less than effective in applying the principle of self-determination. / Arts, Faculty of / History, Department of / Graduate

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Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungus known to cause a group of life-threatening infections collectively known as aspergillosis. In this thesis, multilocus sequence and microsatellite markers, among others, were used to study global and local A. fumigatus population structures. We examined the roles of sexual and asexual reproduction in the initiation of azole resistance globally. Furthermore, we investigated the origin of multi-triazole resistance in India and whether the use of fungicides on farms propagates resistance in environmental strains of clinical importance in Hamilton, Ontario. We characterized for the first time the A. fumigatus population in Cameroon while concomitantly screening for environmental resistance. Our results showed that sexual reproduction plays a key role in the development of triazole resistance globally. We found that multi-triazole resistance in India has multiple origins, which include mutational, recombinational and exotic origins. Our results provided little to no evidence that azole fungicides are the origin, or increase the frequency of triazole resistance in clinical A. fumigatus in Hamilton. Additionally, we identified a significantly unique A. fumigatus population in Cameroon. Our findings will potentially contribute towards developing effective long-term management strategies against aspergillosis. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Aspergillus fumigatus is a mold capable of causing severe infection in humans. Infections caused by A. fumigatus can often be treated using antifungals. However, there have been several reported cases of treatment failure around the world over the last two decades. Generally speaking, treatment failure in patients is often associated with antifungal resistance in A. fumigatus. My thesis aims at better understanding the distribution and investigating the origin of resistance in A. fumigatus at both global and local levels. Here, we analyze A. fumigatus strains from 15 countries, including strains from Hamilton, Ontario. Our findings will potentially contribute towards establishing effective long-term management strategies against A. fumigatus infections locally and globally.

The purpose of this study was to determine the linkages that exist among research, extension, education, and farmers (R-E-E-F) and to propose ways of strengthening these linkages. To achieve this goal the following specific objectives provided the basis of this research: 1. To describe the context in which the R-E-E-F linkage exists. 2. To examine the ways that R-E-E-F functions including: - formal and informal linkages, - communication strategies, - feedback mechanisms, and - diffusion of technical information. 3. To determine how administrators view the research, technology-transfer, and farmer linkage. The study was based on Kaimowitz et aI's. (1990) conceptual framework for studying the links between agricultural research and technology transfer in developing countries. This framework looked at "linkage mechanisms" in terms of the organizational procedures used to maintain research-technology transfer links and "contextual factors" i.e., all the factors that affect the use and relevance of linkage mechanisms. / Ph. D.

This study examines the issue of ethnocentrism that has become so detrimental to Christian unity within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon, as it is pulling apart Christians of different ethnic groups. The study puts forward the indigenous practice of Mang-Djala as a possible indigenous resource that can be used as an added value not only in enhancing the Christian understanding of unity, but also in advocating for peace, justice and reconciliation in ordinary social life. In this regard, the study investigates the possibility of Mang-Djala functioning in the secular sense as social contract and in a religious sense as covenant. The study argues that the rejection of African cultures by the colonisers and the first missionaries was a big mistake, and that the Gospel needs to be incarnated in every culture and context. Contextualization therefore needs to be used to integrate African cultures and the Gospel. Hence, the study posits that Mang-Djala is a preparation for the Gospel, which can be defined as anything within a culture that can become an entry point, facilitating the transmission, clarifying the understanding of the Gospel and allowing the openness of the local people to that Gospel. The basic research question of the study is: in view of the challenges being presented to church and society by ethnic diversity in Cameroon is there a possibility that the indigenous concept of Mang-Djala may act as a reconciling or unifying agent? The study suggests that the concept of Mang-Djala should be introduced into the church at different levels via its structures in order to popularise it and integrate it into the church‘s theology and practice. In this way, the ethnic groups that are not accustomed to the concept will come to understand and appropriate it, as a new paradigm of understanding and living the Gospel of unity. The problem of ethnicity and the possibility of using Mang-Djala as a possible antidote needs to be introduced as part of the training of the clergy. Other institutions in the church where it could be introduced are The Women for Christ Fellowship and the Christian youth organisation. It should also be introduced at synodical level. More importantly, the study suggests that the Church should create and insert in its constitution a clause that should declare ethnocentrism a sin against which every Christian should stand because it promotes discrimination which is against God‘s commandment of love. The study also acknowledges, however, that Mang-Djala should not be considered as an ultimate solution to the problems posed by ethnocentrism. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

This study is designed to explore the ways in which PCC’s missional engagement with Agenda PCC 2000 programme has effectively facilitated the empowerment of women for leadership. Under girded with a missiological framework, the exploration draws on insights from the concept of the Mission of God (Missio Dei) and the resulting understanding of humanity created in the image of God (Imago-Dei) and Koinonia that are used to analyze issues of mission, leadership and partnership. African Feminist pastoral theory and Feminist cultural hermeneutics are applied as theories to further guide the study. The study argues that man and woman are created with equal dignity and they both represent God’s purpose on earth. In the light of this theological understanding the study calls into question the PCC exclusion of women from senior leadership role within its ecclesial community. The research question of this study s: What are the experiences of women being empowered for leadership within PCC since the launch of the Agenda PCC 2000 programme? The methodology of the study followed a “mixed method approach” that involves collecting and analyzing more than one form of data in a single study as a design in addressing complex questions in an interdisciplinary research. The process of data analysis involved making sense of the empirical and non-empirical data to ascertain and understand the meaning of the data obtained through interviews. Through textual criticism and discussion with women sharing their experiences on empowerment and leadership positioning, revealed that some women are included in leadership positions but they are alienated by the patriarchal ecclesial power structures of the PCC. If the PCC is to be effective in its missional and ecclesial endeavours’ it needs to embrace a theology of partnership of women and men in leadership structures of the church. The study asserted that if equal space and equity are given to both men and women to participate in decision-making, then fresh approaches to leadership and understanding of mission will be opened. The study concluded that the PCC can do much more in balancing the gender gap if it follows the Trinitarian model of leadership by restructuring its male dominating pattern of leadership that permeates its administrative structures. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

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Linking education, science and technology with national development is a subject of increasing concern in many developing countries. In this dissertation, we have studied empirically the contribution, or lack of it, which public investment in education, science and technology has made to the attainment of development objectives in Cameroon since 1960. Using a small computable macroeconometric model of Cameroon incorporating some major relevant quantitative aspects of the knowledge sector, we have investigated the effects on that sector and on the overall economic system of increased education- and research-service resources. We have also analyzed some of the major qualitative factors that are important in this sector. / Our results suggest that, given existing patterns of education, science and technology in Cameroon, the contribution of public investment in this sector may be small compared to the potential contribution suggested in the literature. The implications of these results are examined for policy-making and planning at the national level.