Theresia Nkuo-Akenji – Professor Theresia Nkuo-Akenji is the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Bamenda, Cameroon. She obtained a BSc. in Medical Technology from St. Mary of the Woods College, Terre Haute Indiana; MSc in Microbiology from the State University of New York, Buffalo and PhD in Parasitology /Immunology from Louisiana State University all in the USA. Before her appointment to The University of Bamenda, she was one of the pioneer lecturers of the first Anglo-Saxon styled University in Cameroon, the University of Buea, where she served in several capacities namely Deputy Vice­Chancellor of Internal Control and Evaluation, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Vice Dean of Students Affairs and Records in the Faculty of Science and Head of Department of Life Sciences. Her research interest are in the Immunology of Malaria and Interactions of Malaria with other Tropical Disease Pathogens. She has supervised many Masters and PhD students, has published extensively and won several prestigious grants and awards.  

Nkuo-Akenji has a passion for mentoring young girls in the areas of Science and Technology and is Founder of Cameroon Interdisciplinary Research Consultancy. She is a member of several Professional Societies including the Cameroon Academy of Sciences, New York Academy of Sciences, American Society of Parasitologists, Pioneer Treasurer of the Cameroon Immunology Society, Pioneer President of Cameroon Women in Science Southwest Chapter. She is the Immediate 2 Past National President of the Catholic Women's Association Cameroon and former National President of her j8Secondary School Alumni Association. In the area of Nation Building, she has served in the National Elections Observatory of Cameroon. She is currently the Board Chair of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) and 1st Vice President of the Association of African Universities. 

MESSAGE ON THE INITIATIVE  

I am honoured to be part of a team of great minds that is set to attain the noble objective of mapping the way forward for the full design and implementation of the pioneer Trust Fund for Africa Higher Education and TVET systems. As one of the members representing the AAU, I confidently state here that the Association will give its full support to the FIAU initiative.