University of Buea: Pro Chancellor, Prof Chief Ako Edward Oben, dies at 74.

His demise was confirmed by a prominent elite of Manyu Division, his area of origin.

According to a message circulated yesterday, and attributed to the Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency, Victor Arrey Mengot, Prof Ako Edward, who was also Chief of Ossing village, in Manyu Division, South West Region, died while receiving medical attention at the Yaounde Referral Hospital.

It was not immediately disclosed what illness led to his demise.

In the message confirming his death, Minister Arrey Mengot, who is the political leader of Manyu Division wrote: “Dear Comrades, it is with a heavy heart that I announce the sad and painful passing unto glory of Nfor Prof Ako Edward, Chief of Ossing and Pro Chancellor of the University of Buea, this afternoon Monday August 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM; at the Yaounde Referral Hospital”.

“The corpse has been conserved at the mortuary of the said hospital. Funeral programme will be announced in due course,” Minister Arrey Mengot added.

Born on May 18, 1959, Prof Ako Edward Oben, until June 27, 2017, was the Rector of the University of Maroua.

Born in Ossing, Eyumojock Subdivision, Manyu Division of the South West Region, Prof Ako Edward, died while serving as Prof Chancellor of the University of Buea.

An enviable professional career

The late Prof Ako Oben obtained his PhD in comparative Literature, from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and USA in 1982, having worked with Profs Owen Aldridge, Francois Jost and Richard Barksdale.

In 1978, he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Afro-American Studies, from Atlanta University, Georgia, USA; with emphasis on African American, Afro-French and Caribbean Literatures.

A former pupil of the Basel Mission School, Osing from 1956- 1963, the young Ako then moved to the Bilingual Grammar School, Man O’War Bay and later to the Cameroon College of Arts, Science and Technology, CCAST Bambili; where he obtained his GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level respectively.

Prof Ako Edward Oben served the State in several capacities before journing to the world beyond yesterday.  

His appointment as University of Buea Pro Chancellor, was not just a field of discovery for him; having worked at the helm of the University of Maroua for nine years; from 2008 - 2017. 

As Rector of the University of Maroua, he was in charge of managing the academic and administrative structures of the State University.

From 2003- 2008, he served as Technical Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, where he was in charge of the Division of Cultural and Social Affairs. He coordinated the activities of more than ten ministerial departments.

From 2000- 2003, he was Vice Rector in charge of Research and Cooperation, at the University of Yaounde I, where he coordinated National, Inter-African and International cooperation ties and oversaw university research development. 

He was also the Focal Point of the Association of African Universities, in the University of Yaounde I, during this period.

From 2000- 2008, he was member of the Cameroon Consultative Committee of University Institutions, CCIU.

From 2001- 2008, he occupied these roles, including being Member of the Cameroon Scientific Evaluation Committee for the promotion of university lecturers, CSE, member of the University of Yaounde I Commission for the Recruitment of Lecturers, CCRA and member of the Advisory Council of the African Virtual Library and Information Network, AVLIN of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, ECA.

From 1998-2000, he was Vice Rector in charge of Academic Affairs of the University of Yaounde I, where he coordinated all aspects of teaching in the Faculties and School of the University.

Meanwhile from 1997-1998, the late Prof Ako Oben served as Vice Rector of the University of Yaounde I.

At the time when there was only one Vice Rector in the Cameroon University system, he was therefore in charge of overseeing all aspects of university management and ran the institution in the absence of the Rector.

He also served as Dean of Student Social Services, Assistant Dean of Student Services, Assistant Rapporteur General of the National Scholarship Commission of the Republic of Cameroon, Board member of the Office du Baccalaureat du Cameroun and Chairman of the Academic Advisory Council amongst others.

He held numerous distinguished roles, including 1st Vice President of the Executive Council of the Association of African Universities and Member, Executive Council of the Federation of Universities of the Islamic World.

He was elected Member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities Council.

The Commander of the National Order of Valour, was designated Manager of the Year 2009 by the Groupe Africain d’Excellence.

Amongst his civic and political activities, he was Project Chairman of the Ossing Development and Cultural Association, ODCA and Assistant Secretary General, Manyu Elements Cultural Association, MECA, Yaoundé branch.

He was Chargé de mission of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM for Manyu Division.
He was also member to several professional associations and published extensively in renowned scientific journals

He supervised more than 20 PhDs students in the areas of English, American and Commonwealth/Postcolonial literatures; over 40 students for the Master’s degree, and more than 30 for the Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies, DEA or Certificate of Advanced Studies.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3538 of Tuesday August 19, 2025