UNIBEN Alumni Council honours Cameroon monarch, Achankeng, others with distinguished awards
The University of Benin Alumni Association has conferred its 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award on His Imperial Majesty, Prof. Fonkem Achankeng I, traditional ruler of the Atoabechied Kingdom in Cameroon and a noted academic.
The honour, presented during the 2025 Global Homecoming Celebration in Benin City, recognises Achankeng’s outstanding achievements, commitment to scholarship and service, and contributions to the university’s global reputation. It is one of the association’s highest distinctions.
Achankeng, who was recently recognised in Appleton, Wisconsin, for cultural and academic leadership, said the award reflects years of work shaped by UNIBEN and global engagements.
He described the recognition as “a profound honour and blessing,” adding that it celebrates both his scholarship and cultural stewardship.
He recalled his formative experiences at UNIBEN, from student union activities to extensive academic exposure through campus clubs, as central to his development.
The award has drawn praise from senior academics across Africa. Emeritus Prof. Raymond Elaho hailed Achankeng as a “trailblazer,” noting he was the first First-Class graduate of UNIBEN’s Faculty of Arts.
Professors Carl and Stella Anyangwe described the honouree as a figure who has “seamlessly merged scholarship and traditional leadership.”
Colleagues say Achankeng exemplifies the excellence the Distinguished Alumnus Award is designed to honour.
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