# Victor Mbarika

Victor Mbarika is an American professor from Cameroon. He is currently the Stallings International Distinguished Scholar and MIS professor at East Carolina University within the University of North Carolina System, in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. He is the President, Board of Trustees of the ICT University.

## Education

Mbarika earned his Master's degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) from The University of Illinois at Chicago in 1997, and a Ph.D. degree in MIS from Auburn University in 2000.

## Career and research

Mbarika's research is focused on ICT implementation in Africa, and has provided a theoretically informed framework for understanding ICTs in less developed countries. His work provides a base from which to begin to understand the contextual differences that dictate information systems research in less advantaged environments. He is founding editor-in-chief of The African Journal of Information Systems and senior board member for several academic journals internationally.
He is also the founder of the International Center for Information Technology and Development (ICITD), East Carolina University, Greenville, which focuses on advancing IT training and development in Sub Saharan Africa especially on e-health, e-education and e-democracy. In 2016, he was among the first recipients of the Fulbright-MCMC research grants.
In 2020, Premium Times reported that a spokesperson for Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, governor of Kano State of Nigeria, claimed that Ganduje had received a letter from Mbarika indicating Ganduje's appointment as a visiting professor at East Carolina University. East Carolina University later released a statement that confirmed Mbarika was part of its faculty but denied that the appointment was made and that Mbarika was authorised to make such an appointment at the university.

## Other initiatives

Other initiatives facilitated by him include The ICT for Africa conference series (ICT4 Africa), African Journal of Information Systems (AJIS), the ICT University Foundation and Cameroon Youths for Jesus (CYJ). Through the ICT University Foundation, he has donated e-learning facilities to some universities in sub-Saharan Africa which is aimed to advance learning activities for economic and societal development.

## Publications

Professor Mbarika has authored over 200 academic publications (books, book chapters, journals articles).

## Selected books

* Ayo, C. K. and Mbarika, V. (Eds.). (2017). Sustainable ICT Adoption and Integration for Socio-Economic Development. IGI Global, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
* Mbarika, V. and Adebayo, A. P. (2015). Information and Communication Technology for Secondary Schools. AGWECAMS Publishers.
* Kituyi G., Moya, M. and Mbarika, V. (2013). Computerized Accounting and Finance: Applications in Business. Makerere University Business School.
* Hinson, R., Boateng, R. and Mbarika, V. (Eds.). (2009). Electronic Commerce and Customer Management in Ghana. Accra, Ghana: Pro Write Publishing.
* Kizza, J.M., Muhirwe, J., Aisbett, J., Getao, K., Mbarika, V., Patel, D. and Rodrigues, A. J. (Eds.). (2007). Strengthening the Role of ICT in Development. Fountain Publishers: Kampala, Uganda.
* Sankar, C.S., Mbarika, V., & Raju, P.K. (2006). Use of Information Technologies in Businesses and Society: Learning Through Real-World Case Studies. Anderson, SC: Tavenner Publishers.
* Raju, P.K., Sankar, C. & Mbarika, V. (2005). POWERTEL Case Study: Coverage of a Larger Area versus Better Frequency Re-Use in Wireless Communications. Anderson, SC: Tavenner Publishers.
* Mbarika, V. (2001). Africa’s Least Developed Countries’ Teledensity Problems and Strategies. Yaounde, Cameroon: ME & Agwecam Publishers.

## Honors and awards

Mbarika is a recipient of three lifetime achievement awards, for his "Outstanding contribution to computer science and telecommunications" and his "Contribution to ICT Research and Education".
He received African Achievers Award on July 14, 2023 in London, United Kingdom.
He was also honored with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award by former U.S. President Joe Biden for his contributions to education and poverty alleviation. Additionally, the United Kingdom’s House of Lords recognized him with the African Leadership Award.
In Cameroon, Professor Mbarika was conferred the TEH-BENG (Pillar of Society) title by the Meta Fons Union in Yaoundé, recognizing his contributions to ICT development in the region.
He is a five-time Fulbright grant recipient, founding Editor-in-Chief of The African Journal of Information Systems, and a lifetime member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and Africa's first distinguished member of the Association of Information Systems.