By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
In a landmark achievement for academia in Cameroon, Professor Ernest Lytia Molua, a distinguished scholar in Agricultural Economics, has been officially recognised as a Full Professor. The announcement was made through Order No. 25/00001/MINESUP/SP-CCIU dated January 9, 2025, signed by the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo.
Currently serving as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research, Cooperation, and Relations with the Business World (RCB) at the University of Bamenda, Professor Molua’s promotion marks a significant milestone in his illustrious academic career.
Achieving the rank of Full Professor, the highest academic title in the university system, is a testament to Prof. Molua’s extensive research contributions, publication record, exemplary teaching, mentoring experience and leadership within the national and international academic community.
In 2024, Prof. Molua was honoured as the Outstanding Scientist in Agriculture in Africa for 2023 by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) Network. This prestigious award recognised his unwavering dedication to advancing higher education, agricultural research, and development across the continent.
Prof. Molua’s expansive career includes significant administrative roles such as Director for Infrastructure, Planning, and Development at the University of Douala, Registrar of the University of Buea, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Buea, and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness.
Prof. Molua’s academic journey has been nothing short of remarkable. His studies have taken him through prestigious institutions in ancient university towns including Yale University in the USA, Georg-August University of Goettingen in Germany, the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the University of Benin in Nigeria.
Beyond his administrative roles, Prof. Molua has enriched academic communities globally as a visiting professor at the University of Pretoria (South Africa), the Trade Policy Training Centre for Africa (Tanzania), and the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (Senegal). He is also a board member of the College of Research Associates at the United Nations University for Natural Resources in Accra, Ghana.
His expertise has been sought by renowned international bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the World Cocoa Foundation.
Prof. Molua is also affiliated with numerous research institutions, including the Centre for Policy Studies in South Africa and the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA). His academic influence extends to mentoring future agricultural economists through the Collaborative Masters Programme in Agricultural and Applied Economics (CMAAE) under the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC).
A recipient of multiple research grants from institutions like IDRC (Canada), SIDA (Sweden), and UNITAR, Prof. Molua is also an active member of several prestigious professional societies, including the Royal Economic Society (UK) and the African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE), where he serves as Vice President of the Cameroon Association of Agricultural Economists (CAAE).
Known for his humility, diligence, and unwavering commitment to human development, Professor Ernest Lytia Molua continues to inspire the academic community both in Cameroon and internationally.
His promotion to Full Professor not only crowns years of scholarly excellence but also underscores his lasting impact on agricultural development and higher education across Africa.