- Prof Molua says he strives to promote research and position UBA with an internationalization agenda
By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
Bringing his wealth of experience to drive the mission and vision of the University of Bamenda is the renowned Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Professor Ernest L. Molua who was appointed on 24th January 2023 by the President of the Republic Paul Biya, to the post of Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Cooperation and Relations with the Business World (DVC RCB) to the University of Bamenda.
Speaking to the Sun Newspaper, Professor Molua revealed that his drive is not only to promote research but also to strive to position the University of Bamenda with an internationalization agenda via increased cooperation and enrollment of foreign students in a manner that brings revenue, recognition and prestige to the University of Bamenda.
Prior to his appointment, Professor Molua was the Director for Infrastructure, Planning and Development of the University of Douala, Cameroon. Formerly he served as the Registrar of the University of Buea, and the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea. He had also served as the Head of Department for Agricultural Economics and Agri-business, in the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine of the University of Buea. He began his administrative career as Chief of Service for National and International Cooperation of the University of Buea.
The University of Bamenda runs a wealth of classical and professional programmes, which stand to benefit from the intellectual capital and networking capacity of its new DVC RCB. Professor Molua obtained a Phd in Agricultural Economics from the Georg-August University of Goettingen in Germany, and an MSc in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management from The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Professor Molua is well endowed to contribute to the goals of UBa. Before travelling overseas, Professor Molua studied in Nigeria, at the University of Benin in Benin City where he obtained BSc and MSc degrees in Agricultural Economics. In Nigeria, he was sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Cameroon after graduating as one of the outstanding students in the Cameroon General Certificate of Education at the Saint Joseph’s College Sasse in Buea.
Research networks which UBa stands to exploit spans the African and extra-African sphere, including lucrative partnerships with American and European Institutions. UBa now has his man, Professor Molua who completed the United States Government’s Fulbright Research Fellowship to the prestigious Ivy-League Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He also serves internationally as Visiting Professor to the University of Pretoria, South Africa, the United Nations University for Peace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa in Accra, Ghana; the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning in Dakar, Senegal, and the Trade Policy Training Centre for Africa in Arusha, Tanzania. Professor Molua is a consultant to the World Bank, the IMF and many United Nations Agencies.
Since UBa’s strategic plan accounts for strategic initiatives for strengthening their scientific collaboration, Professor Molua’s mandate is an opportunity to continue to strengthen the role of research and innovation in the relationship between UBa and its partners, through joint inter-university research projects in key areas such as agriculture, health, digitalization, climate change, and good governance.