FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London, United Kingdom | 8, July 2026
Prof Jean-Marie Kayembe Ntumba, Rector of the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Democratic Republic of Congo, has been honoured with the African Education Special Leadership Commendation Award at the 16th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) 2026, in recognition of his transformative leadership in higher education, research excellence, and institutional modernisation.
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Presented during the African Leadership Magazine Africa Summit in London, the award celebrates Prof Kayembe Ntumba’s steadfast commitment to advancing academic standards, fostering international cooperation, and positioning UNIKIN as a leading centre of learning and innovation on the continent.
A distinguished Professor of Pneumology, Prof Kayembe Ntumba has served as Rector of UNIKIN since September 2021, following a six-year tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. An extensively published researcher in infectious disease surveillance, tuberculosis trends, and respiratory care in resource-limited settings, he also coordinates the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) and maintains active memberships in prestigious international bodies, including the European Respiratory Society.
Under his leadership, UNIKIN has embarked on an ambitious programme of modernisation and digitisation, with notable achievements including the elevation of the university’s standing among the top 50 African institutions. He has spearheaded strategic international partnerships, most prominently a digital and educational cooperation agreement with Wuhan University in China, reinforcing UNIKIN’s global academic footprint. His tenure has also seen critical infrastructure upgrades, the restoration of medical equipment at the University Clinics of Kinshasa, and sustained structural academic evaluations.
Prof Kayembe Ntumba’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including an international Doctorat Honoris Causa in recognition of his dual impact on biomedical science and African higher education reform. His leadership continues to inspire a new generation of scholars and administrators committed to academic excellence and institutional transformation.
The African Business Leadership Awards recognise outstanding individuals and organisations whose leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence are shaping Africa’s economic transformation and sustainable development.
Media Contact
King Richard Igimoh,
Group Editor,
African Leadership Magazine,
United Kingdom | Africa
Email: editor@africanleadership.co.uk
Website: www.africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk
