Cameroonian Peacebuilder Dr. Esther Omam Earns PhD and International Honorary Doctorate

Dr. Esther Omam, Executive Director, Reach Out Cameroon.

Cameroonian peacebuilder and humanitarian leader Dr. Esther Omam has received two major international academic distinctions within a month, recognizing both her scholarly contribution to conflict resolution and her decades of leadership in peacebuilding, women's empowerment, and community development.

The Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon recently completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Diplomacy and Conflict Management from Selinus University of Sciences and Literature before being awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Leadership and International Business Management by Universal Blockchain University in Florida, United States.

Dr. Esther Omam, Others Immortalize Event.

The honorary doctorate was conferred during the SDG Summit Cameroon 2026 in Douala on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in the presence of government officials, including representatives of the Littoral Governor's Office, the Wouri Senior Divisional Officer's Office and the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts. Professor Yota Louis Fomba represented the university during the ceremony.

The two honours recognize different aspects of Dr. Omam's career. Her PhD acknowledges her academic work in diplomacy, peace, and conflict management, while the honorary doctorate recognizes nearly three decades of practical leadership in humanitarian action, mediation, entrepreneurship, women's leadership, and sustainable development.

Dr. Esther Omam, Brandishing PhD Thesis.

Her doctoral research, titled The Indispensable Role of Women in Conflict Resolution: The Case of Cameroon's Anglophone Crisis, examines the contribution of women to peace processes and conflict transformation. The study explores obstacles limiting women's participation in peacebuilding and proposes recommendations for policymakers, security institutions and development partners to strengthen inclusive peace efforts.

Beyond academia, Dr. Esther Omam has built a reputation as one of Cameroon's leading peace advocates through her work with Reach Out Cameroon and several national and international organizations. Her initiatives have focused on humanitarian assistance, mediation, women's economic empowerment, youth development, governance and community resilience.

                 Congratulatory Cake.

She currently serves in several leadership roles, including Managing Director of Kites & Others, Global Peace Champion, Civil Society Board Member of the UN Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), Country Chair of the G100 Mentoring & Motivation Wing – Cameroon, Vice Chair of the Continental Network of Women Business Associations in Africa (CONWOBAA), Special Rapporteur of the National Women's Convention for Peace, Vision Bearer of the South West North West Women Task Force (SNWOT), Founder and Technical Adviser of Community Women Peace Mediators (COWOPEM), and is a member of several regional and international peacebuilding and mediation networks.

Speaking after receiving the honorary doctorate, Dr. Esther Omam described the recognition as both a personal milestone and a tribute to those working for peace and development.

"I receive these honours with profound gratitude and humility," she said. "The earned PhD represents years of research, sacrifice and scholarship, while the Honorary Doctorate reflects the confidence that others have placed in my leadership and service."

She dedicated the awards to women, young people, humanitarian workers, entrepreneurs and peacebuilders, saying leadership should inspire others "to rise, serve, innovate and build."

Dr. Esther Omam Showcased Captured During the Event.

Dr. Omam also urged African leaders to prioritize investment in people, arguing that entrepreneurship and innovation remain essential to sustainable development.

"Africa's greatest resource is not beneath our soil but within our people," she said. "We must move from dependence to enterprise, from waiting for opportunities to creating them, and from individual success to collective prosperity."

The twin recognitions further strengthen Dr. Omam's standing as one of Cameroon's prominent voices on peacebuilding, mediation, humanitarian action and women's leadership. They also underscore her contribution to advancing the global Women, Peace and Security agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through research, advocacy and community-based action.

@Laarry Times