Int'l Symposium to discuss the urbanization of Douala

Urbanisation phenomenon in Cameroon is one of the greatest worries of the 21th century. The ever growing population of its two major cities, Douala and Yaounde, is preoccupying. According to the National Institute of Statistics, Douala and Yaounde are referred to as Town-Region demographically. Figures from the ‘Direction Nationale du 2ème RGPH, 1992’, the population of Douala rose from 809,852 inhabitants in 1987 to 1,907,479 in 2010.

Due to the rapid demographic growth, urban demand is far less than supplies in the areas of housing, health, security, education, hygiene and sanitation, employment and pollution which are further compounded by urban disorder. To seek lasting solution, Cheikh Anta Diop Association under the Faculty of Letters and Social Sciences at the University of Douala will be organising an international symposium from December 15-17.

The symposium that will hold under the theme: “Douala Futuris: Stakes and Challenges of Urban Emergence,” will create a platform of collaboration and experience sharing between researchers, decision makers, civil society organisations and the local population. The symposium is placed under the patronage of the Ministers of Housing and Urban Development, Higher Education and Scientific Research and Innovation.