The Archbishop of Bamenda and President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon replaces Archbishop Jean Mbarga, Archbishop of Yaoundé, in this position.
The governance of the Catholic University of Central Africa enters a new era. The bishops of Cameroon entrust Archbishop Andrew Nkea with the role of Grand Chancellor of UCAC. The decision comes from a consultation of the bishops of Cameroon, at the end of which 13 out of 19 voters chose the Archbishop of Bamenda to oversee the governance of the sub-regional university institution.
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The Secretary General of the National Episcopal Conference, Archbishop Paul Nyaga, conveyed the news by correspondence dated August 4, 2026, to the President of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Central African region, Archbishop Bertrand Guy Richard Appora Ngalanibe, who is also President of the Central African Episcopal Conference.
As guarantor of the Catholic identity of UCAC, the Grand Chancellor performs a mission similar to that of a chairman of the board within a state university. This mission consists of presiding over the university’s higher council, which brings together the episcopal conferences of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Central Africa; he also represents the university before regional ecclesiastical bodies and the Vatican. In his role of guidance and supervision, he oversees the overall orientations of UCAC in collaboration with the rector. He also supports the academic prominence of the university.
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Often elected following a consultation and vote by the Plenary Assembly of bishops of the sub-region, he is confirmed by the Vatican. Archbishop Andrew Nkea thus joins the list of prelates appointed to hold the office of Grand Chancellor of UCAC. He will continue the mission of Archbishop Jean Mbarga, who replaced Archbishop Victor Tonye Bakot, the successor in this position of the late Cardinal Christian Tumi, former Archbishop of Douala. He will hold this position concurrently with that of Grand Chancellor of Pax University Institute of Ndop belonging to the Archdiocese of Bamenda; and Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Cameroon belonging to the ecclesiastical province of Bamenda.
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