West Region: Despite limitations and discrimination, indigenous pop remain confident
By Stephen TADAHA
Indigenous people in the Bamboutos Division mainly made up of the Mbororo community still have difficulties accessing health care services, education, and social amenities.
The problems were made known on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, as the division, joined the rest of the national and international communities to observe the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples under the theme: Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination.
CNA had an interest in the life of the Mbororo community in the Babadjou subdivision, who have raised the above-mentioned problems to authorities.
The spokesperson of the community, Oumarou Djibo, was candid about their ordeals.
“The main problems faced by the Mbororo community in Babadjou, are problems linked to our identity, the Babadjou community finds a lot of difficulties to accept us as people from Babadjou. This means there is a bit of discrimination,” Oumarou Djibo said.
” Another problem is linked to the economy. Since the years 1990s, we have been facing threats of demographic pressure. The increase in population and the high unemployment rate in the Babadjou subdivision, pushed many farmers to invade grazing zones with their farming activities,” Oumarou added.
Also, access to education by the Mbororos has remained a major headache because they have fewer schools in their communities and are therefore obliged to trek to other schools in neighboring localities.
Despite these problems, the Mbororo community through its leadership has been making efforts to overcome them and increase the level of literacy.
” We don’t fold our arms, today we have an association called The Association for the Emergence of Mbororos (ASEMBO). We are making an effort to raise funds for the education of young Mbororos no matter their gender.” Ouamrou continued.
The government’s efforts are however appreciated by the Mbororo community but say, more still needs to be done.
“The state does so much to encourage the Mbororos to send their children to schools but if they could accompany that with some motivation prizes to Mbororo students and pupils every end or start of the year and facilitate the access of Mbororo degree holders to jobs,” he begged.
