Forging Africa’s Next Generation of Policy Thinkers: 27 Scholars Earn Doctorates at PAUGHSS in Yaoundé

In a continent where the conversation about Africa’s future is increasingly being shaped by Africans themselves, the graduation of new scholars dedicated to governance and regional integration carries deep significance. On 5th March 2026, the Pan African University Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences (PAUGHSS) conferred doctoral degrees on 27 graduates during its 11th Graduation Ceremony at the University of Yaoundé II-SOA in Cameroon.

The graduates, representing 20 African Union Member States, completed the institute’s flagship PhD Programme in Governance and Regional Integration. Their work contributes to a growing body of African-led research focused on strengthening governance systems and advancing continental integration.

The ceremony gathered senior representatives from the African Union Commission, the Government of Cameroon and partner universities, reflecting the strong institutional network supporting the Pan African University since its establishment. Among those present were Prof. Jean Koulidiati, Rector of the Pan African University, and Prof. Horace Ngomo Manga, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea. The University of Buea hosts PAUGHSS’s Translation and Conference Interpretation programmes at its Buea campus.

Representing the African Union Commission was Prof. Saidou Madougou, Director of the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), attending on behalf of H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, ESTI Commissioner. The ceremony took place under the auspices of the representative of H.E. Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo, Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education and Chancellor of Academic Orders of the Republic of Cameroon.

This year’s ceremony was particularly notable for bringing together three doctoral cohorts at a single event. Graduates from the 5th, 7th and 8th Promotions of the programme all received their degrees together, a moment that highlighted both the perseverance of the students and the continued progress of the institution. Of the 27 graduates, 14 were men and 13 were women, reflecting a near-equal gender balance aligned with the African Union’s commitment to equity in higher education.

The diversity of the graduating class also reflected the continental vision of the Pan African University. Scholars from five regions of Africa came together under a shared academic mission centred on governance, policy research and regional cooperation.

Speaking on behalf of Commissioner Banyankimbona, Prof. Madougou described the ceremony as one of the clearest examples of the department’s mandate to strengthen Africa’s intellectual capacity. He connected the graduates’ academic work directly to the goals of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term framework for a prosperous and integrated Africa. He reminded the graduates that the continent’s ambitions depend on the people equipped to implement them.

“The Africa We Want does not begin tomorrow. It begins today, the moment you walk out of this hall,” he said.

Prof. Ngomo Manga also reaffirmed the University of Buea’s commitment to the Pan African University partnership and congratulated members of the graduating class, including Dr. Carine Njoumessi and Dr. Lieketso Seutla, who are alumni of the Buea-based programmes.

PAUGHSS is one of five thematic institutes within the Pan African University, a flagship initiative of the African Union designed to strengthen postgraduate education, research and innovation across the continent. Hosted by the University of Yaoundé II-SOA, the institute trains graduate and doctoral students in governance, regional integration, translation and conference interpretation, all aligned with the vision of Agenda 2063.

Across Africa, institutions like PAUGHSS remind the world that the continent’s future will be written by its own scholars, policy thinkers and leaders. For nations that in many cases are only a few decades into independence, the steady investment in knowledge and research is both a necessity and a promise. Each new generation of African scholars brings the continent closer to shaping its destiny on its own terms.

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