General Conference 2025 Newsletter 2
August 12, 2025
Member University in Focus: Durban University of Technology, South Africa
September 23, 2025
The Association of African Universities (AAU) announces with deep sorrow the passing of Professor AKO Edward Oben, a dedicated former Vice President of its Governing Board (2017 -2020).
Prof. AKO’s sad demise occurred on the afternoon of Monday, 18 August 2025, at Yaoundé Referral Hospital in Cameroon.
Widely known for his commitment to academic leadership and dedication to the AAU mission, Prof. AKO served as one of the Association’s four Governing Board Vice Presidents elected at its 14th General Conference held in Ghana in 2017. During his tenure as AAU Vice President, he played a pivotal role in strengthening AAU’s governance system and actively supported its initiatives that promoted academic excellence, collaboration, and innovation across African universities.
Prof. AKO, together with fellow Board Members, worked assiduously to steer AAU toward greater impact, particularly promoting collaboration among African universities and championing causes that enhanced research, capacity building, and institutional development on the continent. His tenure was marked by a depth of insight, wisdom, and belief in the transformative power of higher education and research for Africa’s development.
The AAU family and higher education community will remember Prof. AKO for his invaluable and dedicated service to the Association, his remarkable contribution to expanding the frontiers of higher education across Africa, and his collegial spirit, humility, and inspiration to colleagues, mentees, and students. His passing is a great loss to African higher education and the AAU community.
Prof. AKO has held several prominent leadership positions, including serving as the Rector of the University of Maroua and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Buea, roles he attained after a distinguished career of rising through the academic ranks. He was also the Vice Rector in charge of Research and Cooperation at the University of Yaoundé from 2000 to 2003. From 2003 to 2008, He took a short break from the lecture hall to serve as Technical Advisor in charge of the Division of Cultural and Social Affairs at the Presidency of Cameroon. Prof. Ako obtained his PhD degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Illinois in 1982 and his MA degree in Afro-American Studies from Atlanta University.
On behalf of the Governing Board, Secretariat, and member universities, AAU extends heartfelt condolences to Prof. AKO’s family, the Cameroon academic community, and the numerous others who were privileged to know, encounter, or work with him.
May his gentle soul rest in peace!
