Professor Pauline Nalova Lyonga is a seasoned Cameroonian academic and politician who have made significant contributions to education and governance in Cameroon. She has been serving as the Minister of Secondary Education since her appointment on March 2, 2018. Born in the Fako Division of the South West Region, Prof Nalova Lyonga’s academic journey began with her secondary education at Queen of the Rosary Secondary School in Okoyong, Mamfe, where she graduated in 1968. She later pursued her GCE A Levels at the Cameroon College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Bambili, completing her studies in 1970.
She continued her higher education at the University of Yaoundé, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1973. Seeking further academic excellence, she traveled abroad for postgraduate studies. She earned a master’s degree in African literature from the University of Sheffield in England before proceeding to the United States, where she obtained a PhD in English literature from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1985. Throughout her career, Prof Nalova Lyonga has held various academic and administrative positions, shaping Cameroon’s educational landscape.
Before joining the government, she was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, where she played a pivotal role in advancing academic standards and institutional development. Her tenure saw reforms that improved research output, student performance, and administrative efficiency. As Minister of Secondary Education, she has been instrumental in implementing policies aimed at improving the quality of education across the country. Under her leadership, the ministry has prioritized the expansion of digital learning, the recruitment of teachers, and the improvement of infrastructure in secondary schools.
She has also been at the forefront of reforms to enhance technical and vocational education, aligning it with the country’s developmental goals. Beyond her contributions to education, Prof Nalova Lyonga has actively participated in initiatives that promote youth empowerment and gender equality in education. She has been involved in efforts to increase the enrollment of girls in secondary education and has championed the introduction of programs that address challenges faced by students in conflict-affected regions. Her extensive academic background, coupled with her experience in administration and governance, has positioned her as one of Cameroon’s leading figures in the education sector. Through her work, she continues to play a crucial role in shaping policies that contribute to the growth and modernization of the nation’s educational system.
