YAOUNDÉ, CAMEROON / YONGIN, SOUTH KOREA - Representing the Pan-African University (PAU), Prof. Bolanle Idowu Akeredolu-Ale recently undertook a landmark academic and diplomatic mission to the Republic of Korea. The visit featured a keynote contribution to the 2026 Humanities Korea (HK) 3.0 Consortium International Conference - hosted by the Institute of African Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) following an official invitation from the Institute of African Studies at Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS) - alongside a strategic meeting with Ambassador Kim Young-chae, President of the Korea-Africa Foundation (KAF).

Advancing Continental Governance and Youth Empowerment at HUFS

Held from November 4 to 6, 2026 at the HUFS Global Campus, the international conference convened global scholars under the theme "Reconfiguring Africality: African Youth and Changing Power Dynamics". Participating under the collaborative framework of the HK 3.0 Consortium, Prof. Akeredolu-Ale presented during Session 5: Youth Political Engagement in Africa.

Drawing directly from the PAU institutional model, the presentation- titled "Reconceptualizing Africality Through Higher Education: Youth Agency, Pan-African Institutional Governance, and the Changing Geopolitics of Regional Power" -demonstrated how postgraduate higher education acts as a vital catalyst. It highlighted how equipping young scholars with advanced research capabilities and transformative citizenship shifts continental governance from legacy top-down models ("governing youth") toward collaborative, peer-led policy co-creation ("governing WITH youth") in alignment with AU Agenda 2063.

High-Level Strategic Engagement with the Korea-Africa Foundation

Reinforcing PAU’s international diplomatic reach, Prof. Akeredolu-Ale participated in a pivotal strategic meeting with Ambassador Kim Young-chae, President of the Korea-Africa Foundation. Ambassador Kim brings a distinguished diplomatic career to the foundation, having previously served as Ambassador to Nigeria, Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador to ASEAN, and Ambassador to Libya. The talks focused on strengthening institutional linkages and fostering robust socio-economic and technological partnerships between South Korea and African multilateral institutions.

The high-level meeting was conducted in the distinguished company of:

• Prof. Bethel Ghebru, formerly of Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS) and Director of the AU Centre within the BUFS Institute of African Studies, whose ongoing academic bridges have been instrumental in fostering robust Korea-Africa educational collaborations.
• Prof. Henri Ludovic Mboha Nyamsi from the Department of Political Science at the University of Yaoundé II

Strengthening Afro-Asian Academic Synergy

This successful mission builds directly upon the enduring institutional partnerships established between PAU and South Korean academic leaders - exemplified by landmark bilateral agreements such as the Letter of Intent signed between the PAU Rectorate and the BUFS Institute of African Studies.

Through active participation in global academic dialogues and high-level diplomatic exchanges, the Pan-African University continues to solidify its position as the premier continental institution for higher education, cutting-edge research, and transformative youth-led governance.