  We derive a uniform bound for the total betti number of a closed manifold in
terms of a Ricci curvature lower bound, a conjugate radius lower bound and a
diameter upper bound. The result is based on an angle version of Toponogov
comparison estimate for small triangles in a complete manifold with a Ricci
curvature lower bound. We also give a uniform estimate on the generators of the
fundamental group and prove a fibration theorem in this setting.
