AAU Governing Board Convenes in Accra to Advance Strategic Priorities and Strengthen Africa’s Higher Education Agenda

The Governing Board of the Association of African Universities (AAU) convened today, 12 February 2026, for its 86th session at the Association’s Secretariat in Accra, Ghana. The two-day meeting brings together an eminent cohort of vice-chancellors and higher education executives from all regions of the continent, reflecting the breadth and authority of AAU’s governance architecture.

Operating at the nexus of policy and execution, the Board is engaged in a rigorous review of institutional performance and the alignment of operational delivery with the Association’s current strategic plan. Deliberations are centred on advancing quality assurance, research excellence, digital transformation, and deepened continental collaboration – pillars essential to positioning African higher education as a competitive global force.

The agenda covered a review of the Secretary-General’s management report and previous Board decisions, as well as updates on institutional performance metrics. Also under consideration are preparations for the 2027 Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP), alongside presentations on flagship research programmes and special projects among other key thematic focus areas.

In keeping with its fiduciary and strategic mandate, the Board is scrutinising institutional sustainability models, financial governance frameworks, membership dynamics, and the cultivation of strategic partnerships – all directed toward safeguarding and enhancing the global competitiveness of African universities.

The 2025–2029 Board is composed of distinguished higher education leaders from across Africa. It is led by its President, Professor Kenneth Kamwi Matengu, who doubles as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia. He is ably supported by three Vice-Presidents, elected from other regions than that of the President’s (Southern Africa). They are Professor Abdulwahab Olusapo Egbewole, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Nigeria (Western Africa); Professor Mohammed Larbi Kerkeb, Former President, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco (Northern Africa); and Professor Isaiah Wakindiki, Vice-Chancellor, KCA University, Kenya (Eastern Africa).

Other Board Members consist of AAU’s Secretary General, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole, and eleven university vice-chancellors and presidents (two former) from Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Egypt, and Cameroon.

They include Professor Elhadi Adam Mohammed Ibrahim, Al Neelain University, and Professor Bakri Osman Saeed, Sudan International University, Sudan; Professor Sunungurai Dominica Chingarande, Women’s University in Africa, and Professor Engineer Quinton Chamunorwa Kanhukamwe, Harare Institute of Technology, Zimbabwe; and Professor Roger Antoine Pepin Tsafack Nanfosso, Dschang University, and Professor Theresia Nkuo-Akenji, University of Bamenda, Cameroon.

The others are Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, University of Cape Coast, Ghana; Professor Elisabetta Smaranda Olarinde, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria; Professor Anangisye William-Andey Lazaro, University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Mr. Hicham El Habti, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Morocco; Professor Hisham Mohamed ElSayed Abdelsalam, The Egyptian E-Learning University, Egypt; Professor Salama Gomaa Ali Dawoud, President, Al Azhar University, Egypt; Professor Makie Taal, Vice-Chancellor, International Open University, The Gambia; and Rev. Professor Samuel Hibbert Donkor, Vice-Chancellor, All Nations University, Ghana.

As the Association’s highest policy and oversight body, the Governing Board meets biannually to provide strategic direction and ensure rigorous accountability in the Secretariat’s day-to-day operations. These sessions are central to maintaining institutional coherence and ensuring that AAU’s vision is translated into measurable impact. In line with its commitment to transparency and accountability, the AAU has published its Annual report for the period January – December 2025 which also features the financial report alongside the report of the 16th General Conference and a projects compendium highlighting the transformative initiatives implemented by the AAU for Africa’s higher education sector. These documents are accessible via this link – : https://aau.org/governing-board-documents/.

The 86th governing board session will conclude tomorrow, 13 February 2026, with Board members attending the launch of the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa 2026.

The next meeting of the board will hold online later in the year, 2026. Through disciplined governance, strategic clarity, and continental representation, the AAU Governing Board continues to affirm the Association’s role as the voice and architect of transformative action for higher education in Africa.