Academic Excellence: Cameroonian To Head Open University

Cameroonian-born Pr. Sunny Aiyuk has been appointed DepCameroonian-born Pr. Sunny Aiyuk has been appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Botswana Open University (BOU). He was appointed in April 2026, and since then he has been leading the prestigious institution, one of Botswana’s stateowned universities. As Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Services, he will provide strategic leadership to more than 1,000 academic and professional staff. His appointment follows a rigorous, arduous, and highly competitive international recruitment process. Pr. Aiyuk was selected through an open, transparent, and internationally benchmarked process, one that reflects a national ethos prioritising quality over identity, contribution over connections, and competence over patronage. It is also noteworthy that, at the final stage, Pr. Aiyuk and the other shortlisted candidates underwent an internationally administered psychometric assessment, after which Pr. Aiyuk emerged successful. Recently in Douala, Barrister Napoleon Nyake Besong said the appointment of Pr. Sunny Aiyuk is a reminder that institutions thrive when they widen their search and choose the best minds to shape their future. He added that it is an immense pride and a deep sense of achievement that a remarkable academic milestone has been reached by a Cameroonian, on the global stage. Barrister Besong also stated that Botswana continues to distinguish itself as a nation willing to recognise talent wherever it is found, and to entrust leadership to individuals who demonstrate competence, integrity, and vision. Sunny Aiyuk is a Professor in Water Resources Engineering and Environmental Health and Technology. Before this appointment, he served as Dean of the School of Science and Technology from November 2020 until March 2026 at the same institution. Pr. Aiyuk holds a PhD in Environmental Technology from Ghent University, Belgium; a combined M.Sc. in Water Resources Engineering from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. He also holds an M.Sc. in Applied Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology from the University of Nsukka, Nsukka, and a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon. An experienced educator and administrator in tertiary education, Pr. Aiyuk has over 22 years of experience and more than 15 years in university leadership. He is a global scholar and prolific researcher who has taught and published widely in Environmental Health, Occupational Safety and Health, Public Health, and Statistics addressing issues related to Water and Wastewater Engineering, Waste Management, Environmental Ecotoxicology, Communicable Diseases, Renewable Energy, Climate Change, and Project Managementuty Vice Chancellor at the Botswana Open University (BOU). He was appointed in April 2026, and since then he has been leading the prestigious institution, one of Botswana’s stateowned universities. As Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Services, he will provide strategic leadership to more than 1,000 academic and professional staff. His appointment follows a rigorous, arduous, and highly competitive international recruitment process. Pr. Aiyuk was selected through an open, transparent, and internationally benchmarked process, one that reflects a national ethos prioritising quality over identity, contribution over connections, and competence over patronage. It is also noteworthy that, at the final stage, Pr. Aiyuk and the other shortlisted candidates underwent an internationally administered psychometric assessment,...