Which of the constitutional conferences recommended that autonomy should be granted to Southern Cameroon?

Analyze the question: It asks which constitutional conference recommended autonomy for Southern Cameroons, the British-administered part of Cameroon that had been governed as part of Nigeria's Eastern Region.

Concept: Before 1954, Southern Cameroons was administered as part of the Eastern Region. Its leaders, such as Dr. E.M.L. Endeley, were unhappy with Igbo-dominated Eastern Region politics. They wanted a separate, self-governing status.

Solution (timeline):

• Ibadan Conference, 1950: A general review of the Macpherson Constitution. It did not deal with Southern Cameroons autonomy.
• London Conference, 1953: Held after the self-government crisis of 1953. Southern Cameroons delegates pressed their demand to leave the Eastern Region, and the conference recommended that Southern Cameroons be granted autonomy (separate status).
• Lagos Conference, 1954: Worked out the details of the federal constitution, which came into effect as the Lyttelton Constitution. It put the 1953 recommendation into practice.
• Lagos Conferences, 1957 and 1958: These dealt with independence, minority fears and the revenue allocation, not Southern Cameroons autonomy.

Answer: The recommendation came from the London Conference of 1953, which is option E.

Tip: Link the conferences to their key issues:

• 1950 Ibadan: review of the constitution.
• 1953 London: Southern Cameroons autonomy and self-government crisis.
• 1954 Lagos: federal constitution finalized.
• 1957/58: independence and minorities.