Professor Ako Edward Oben, until 5 pm of 27 June 2017 was the Rector of the University of Maroua.
He was born in Ossing, Eyumojock subdivision, Manyu Division of the SWR.
Professor Ako Oben obtained his PhD in comparative Literature from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and U.S.A in 1982, having worked with Professors Owen Aldridge, Francois Jost and Richard Barksdale.
In 1978, he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Afro-American Studies from Atlanta University, Georgia, U.S.A. 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 where he obtained his GCE Ordinary and Advanced level papers respectively.
Professor Ako Edward Oben has served the state in many capacities. His coming to the University of Buea as Pro-Chancellor is not a field of discovery for him after working at the helm of the University of Maroua for 9 years, from 2008 – 2017. As Rector of the University of Maroua, he was in charge of managing the academic and administrative structures of the 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 and 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 the following positions:
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).
Member of the Advisory Council of the African Virtual Library and Information Network (AVLIN) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
1998 – 2000: Vice Rector in charge of Academic Affairs, The University of Yaounde I where he coordinated all aspects of teaching in the Faculties and School of the University.
1997 – 1998: Vice Rector, UYI. At the time when there was only one Vice Rector in the Cameroon University System. He was therefore in charge of overseeing all aspect of University Management and ran the institution in the absence of the Rector.
He has been 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, Chairman of the Academic Advisory Council amongst others.
He has held numerous awards and distinctions such as:
1st Vice President of the Executive Council of the Association of African Universities.
Member, Executive Council of the Federation of Universities of the Islamic World.
Elected Member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities Council.
Commander of the National Order of Valour.
Designated Manager of the year 2009 by the Groupe Africain d’Excellence.
Knight of the Cameroon Order of Valour (Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Valeur) nd many others.
Amongst his Civic and Political Activities, he is:
Project Chairman, Ossing Development and Cultural Association (ODCA).
Assistant Secretary General, Manyu Elements Cultural Association (MECA), Yaoundé branch.
Chargé de mission of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) for Manyu Division.
He is member to several professional associations and he has published extensively in renowned scientific journals
He has supervised more than 20 Ph.Ds 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.