The YCPDM Section President of Kupe Muanenguba II, Nguti, Esong Simon has shined the light of the division in his distinguished Ph.D. in Law at the University of Douala.
The public defense of his thesis, “A legal appraisal of the concept of statelessness as a global phenomenon” under the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the university, took place on June 8, 2024.
In his defense, Esong posited that statelessness is a human right concept on the lack of nationality by many persons in the world, depriving them of their fundamental human rights. He said such deprived rights include; right to nationality, free movements, health facilities, ownership of properties, voting, amongst others.
The YCPDM Section President said according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, “there are many stateless persons in the world with an estimated population of 15 million and a host of others at risk of statelessness”.
He argued that the Middle East and Pacific habour about 40% (percent) of the world’s stateless population. He said in Africa, West Africa habours a good number of stateless persons. He pointed that much is already being done by various governments to handle this by putting in place and implementing a legal framework to curb the problem.
The Cameroon Context
Speaking to The Ultimate after his defense, Dr. Esong who is also Chief of Brigade for External Bonded Warehouses 4 at the Littoral Customs II Sector, Douala, disclosed that the Cameroon parliament is currently on a bill for the adherence of the nation to the two main conventions of statelessness.
He mentioned 1954 convention on the status of stateless persons and the 1961 convention on the reduction of statelessness.
“It is therefore clear that my topic is vital to the nation and being the first Cameroonian to work on this aspect of International Public Law, my research has exhausted pertinent aspects of risks of statelessness in Cameroon, making recommendations to curb the situation”. The newly crowned doctor revealed.
At the end of the defense, the jury unanimously awarded Esong the grade of distinction.
Present at the defense was the Director General of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilization Fund, CSPH, represented by his Personal Assistant, Ajang Evaristus, Section President CPDM Kupe Muanenguba II, Nguti. The Kupe Muanenguba Chiefs Conference was represented by its Adverser, Chief Ashuta Thomas. Friends, colleagues and family members spiced the reception with animation.
Biography
Born in Kokobuma on May 5, 1982 by Mr. Esong Simon Nsonge of Bambe, Ngomengoe Clan (Bakossi) of Nguti Sub Division and Mrs. Esong Grace Musaka of Kokaka Village, Konye Sub Division, Dr. Esong did his primary education in Kokobuma and Ntale, where he got his First School Leaving Certificate in 1995.
He obtained his GCE Ordinary Level in 2000 from GHS Nguti, and Advance Level from Divine High School, Kumba in 2002. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a Master’s Degree in Corporate Business and Finance Law.
Professionally, Dr. Esong is a graduate from the CEMAC Customs School in Bangui. He has put in twenty years of service as a senior controller of customs and is presently Chief of Brigade for External Bonded Warehouse 4 at the Littoral Customs II Sector, Douala.
In 2015, he was elected YCPDM Section President for Kupe Muanenguba II and was reelected in 2021 in the same capacity.
By Olive Ejang
