Januarius Jingwa Asongu

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Januarius Jingwa Asongu
Asongu-pic.jpg
Asongu in 2015
Born
Januarius Asongu

(1970-08-17) 17 August 1970 (age 55)
Lewoh, Lebialem, Cameroon
OccupationChancellor of Saint Monica University (2012–present)
Nationality American
Notable worksCybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance; Forced Unity; Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility in Practice; and The Modern MBA.

Januarius Jingwa (JJ) Asongu (born 17 August 1970) is a Cameroonian-American multi-disciplinary scholar, [1] philosopher, [2] [3] liberation theologian, [4] cybersecurity executive, [5] educator, [6] and prolific author. [7]

Contents

A former journalist and advocate for Anglophone Cameroonian rights, Asongu emigrated to the United States in the mid-1990s, where he has pursued careers in academia, communication, information technology, and business. After naturalizing as a United States citizen, he has attempted to build bridges between the US and Africa, primarily by founding US-style higher educational institutions in Africa. [8] [9] He is the founder and chancellor of Saint Monica University (SMU), an American-style international university with campuses in Cameroon, [8] [9] and the American Institute of Technology (AIT), Freetown, Sierra Leone. [10]

Asongu has developed a philosophical framework called Critical Synthetic Realism, [11] and a related Critical Liberative Theology. [12] This original philosophy has influenced his perception of business ethics, especially corporate social responsibility, [13] his rejection of witchcraft and related superstitions, [14] and is considered a framework integrating critical fallibilism, synthetic interdisciplinarity, and stratified realism, applied to epistemology, ethics, science, theology, and social emancipation.

Birth and early life

Asongu was born on 17 August 1970 in West Cameroon (formerly British Cameroons) as the eldest of seven children, with four sisters and two brothers. His parents, Dr. Nicholas Jingwa and Monique Nkengbeza, are devout Catholic Christians. [15] He is a nephew to the popular Ambazonian prolific novelist Linus Asong. [16] During his secondary and high school years, Asongu led the Young Christian Students (YCS) in Kumbo Diocese [17] and became familiar with the Catholic Social Teachings. [18] He moved to the United States in the mid-1990s and became a naturalized citizen. [19]

Education

Asongu attended Government High School Kumbo (now Government Bilingual High School Kumbo) for his secondary and high school education from 1982 to 1989. He then began his priestly formation at Bishop Rogan College, [20] in Soppo, Buea, and continued his university studies at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Bambui, an affiliated institute of the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, [21] where he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree.

Following his time at the seminary, Asongu pursued an academic career abroad. In 1995, Asongu received a certificate in journalism from the University of Lagos (UNILAG Consult), Nigeria, and in 1998, he became the first person from Cameroon to be awarded the prestigious Press Fellowship [22] from the Nuffield Foundation at Wolfson College, University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. [23] He has since earned other advanced degrees, including a Master of Science in Management of Information Technology from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and PhDs in Business Administration and Cybersecurity from Charisma University, and in Psychology from City University, Cambodia.

Career

Asongu's professional career began in teaching, where he taught English literature, history, and commerce at Bishop Rogan College, Buea (1989–1990). [24] In 1993–1994, he worked as a seminarian intern at St. John's Catholic Parish in Kumba and St. Luke's Parish in Nyandong. Following journalism training in Nigeria, he worked as a reporter in Cameroon, contributing to various newspapers and co-hosting Catholic programs on CRTV. His critical writings led to conflicts with authorities, prompting his relocation to the United States. [25]

In the US, Asongu initially continued in journalism, working at The Houston Chronicle as an Alfred Friendly Press Fellow—the first Cameroonian to receive this fellowship. [26] He was also awarded a Press Fellowship at Wolfson College, Cambridge. Upon returning, he served as a reporter and editor for various newspapers and magazines, and transitioned to public relations in 1999. [27]

Asongu has taught at multiple US universities, including Rockford University (Rockford, IL); [28] Herzing University (Milwaukee, WI); [29] Fort Hays State University (Hays, KS); [30] Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Rockford Campus); [31] and Franklin University (Columbus, OH). [32] In 2012, he founded Saint Monica University (SMU) with campuses in Buea and Kumba, Cameroon. [8] In 2025, he again founded the American Institute of Technology (AIT) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. [10]

Currently, Asongu is a cybersecurity executive, holding the CISSP certification and over a dozen related professional credentials. [33] [34] He has consulted for global IT, finance, and consulting companies; delivered presentations on cybersecurity and AI; [35] and authored several books and articles in the field. [33]

Public scholarship and activism

Prof. Januarius Asongu at the UN in Geneva 27 Oct 2024 Asongu Geneva.jpg
Prof. Januarius Asongu at the UN in Geneva 27 Oct 2024

Asongu conducted a detailed study of the Anglophone problem (Cameroon) and wrote a thesis in 1993 on The Problem of National Unity in Cameroon: A Politico-Philosophical Appraisal. He has also published a book on the Ambazonia war of independence entitled Forced Unity. [36] He was also a champion of Ambazonia independence and currently chairs the Alliance for Peace and Justice (APJ) in the Former British Southern Cameroons. In November 2024, he presented the Ambazonian case before the United Nations in Geneva. [37] He was also the lead plaintiff in the Ambazonia case against Cameroon at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights in Banjul, the Gambia. [38]

He is a supporter of the feminist movement and has argued for the ordination of women into the Catholic priesthood. He also supports environmental sustainability and argues that "Faith, to remain faithful, must always be willing to move beyond doctrine—toward emancipation." [4] He decided to pursue a PhD in Psychology in order to understand LGBTQ issues, and wrote his dissertation on Triple-Masking and Mental Health: The Burden of Identity Management for Autistic LGBTQ+ Christians In Conservative Church Settings. [39] He has since written two books (Holistic Resilience [40] and Hidden Selves [41] ) and multiple scholarly articles defending LGBTQ rights from both the perspectives of theology and psychology. [42]

Philosophy

Prof. JJ Asongu in Delaware JJ Home.jpg
Prof. JJ Asongu in Delaware

Asongu is a member of the American Philosophical Association (APA) [43] and is the originator of Critical Synthetic Realism (CSR), a philosophical framework he developed to address epistemic fragmentation, post-truth challenges, and ethical polarization in contemporary society. [11] [44]

CSR is structured around three interconnected pillars:

The framework draws influences from Aristotelian-Thomistic realism, Roy Bhaskar's Critical Realism, Karl Popper's fallibilism, phenomenological hermeneutics, and liberation philosophy. Its core components include a layered metaphysics, virtue-based epistemology, teleological ethics oriented toward human flourishing, and an emancipatory social theory focused on institutional reform. [11]

Asongu has applied CSR across various domains, including critiques of scientism (distinguishing legitimate science from ideological overreach), [44] deconstruction of syncretic witchcraft beliefs in African Christianity, [46] defenses of objective truth amid pluralism, [2] and expansions of liberation theology. [4]

Boards

He has served on the boards of the National Association of African American Studies (NAAAS) and Affiliates, [47] and the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERUDEF). [48]

Books

Asongu has written or co-authored about two dozen books, and over 50 academic articles, on various subjects including business, communication, politics, psychology, philosophy, theology, public heath, technology etc. Here are some of his books:

Business, Management, and Leadership

Communication and Education

Cybersecurity and Information Security

Politics, Conflict, and International Affairs

Psychology, Counseling, and Mental Health

References

  1. ↑ "Januarius Asongu". Google Scholar.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Asongu, Januarius Jingwa. "Critical Synthetic Realism: A Defense of Objective Truth and the Tentative Nature of Knowledge". Academia.edu. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "APA Member Directory". American Philosophical Association. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Asongu, Januarius Jingwa (January 2023). "New Frontiers of Liberation Theology: Critical Liberative Theology, Critical Synthetic Realism, and the Expanding Horizon of Christian Emancipation". Academia.edu. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  5. ↑ Asongu, Januarius (2025). Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance: Foundations for Secure and Resilient Organizations. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8261864639.
  6. ↑ "Januarius J Asongu - Saint Monica University". Academia.edu.
  7. ↑ "The Chancellor". Saint Monica University Higher Institute. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Saint Monica University (SMU)" . Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 "St. Monica University" . Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  10. 1 2 "American Institute of Technology, Sierra Leone" . Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 Asongu, Januarius Jingwa. "Critical Synthetic Realism: An Integrative Framework for Truth and Flourishing in a Post-Truth Age". Academia.edu. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  12. ↑ Asongu, Januarius (2 November 2023). "New Frontiers of Liberation Theology: Critical-Liberative Theology, Critical Synthetic Realism, and the Expanding Horizon of Christian Emancipation". SSRN. 5927345.
  13. ↑ Asongu, Januarius (2023). "Critical Synthetic Realism and Corporate Social Responsibility". SSRN.
  14. ↑ Asongu, Januarius (2023). "The Epistemological Challenge of Witchcraft: A Critical Synthetic Realist Perspective". SSRN.
  15. ↑ Asongu, Januarius Jingwa (2025). Forced Unity: A Critical Appraisal of the Ambazonia Struggle for Emancipation and Self-Determination. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8274391313.
  16. ↑ "Linus Asong, Author Profile". Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  17. ↑ Asongu, Januarius Jingwa (2025). Forced Unity: A Critical Appraisal of the Ambazonia Struggle for Emancipation and Self-Determination. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8274391313.
  18. ↑ "Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  19. ↑ Asongu, Januarius Jingwa (2025). Forced Unity: A Critical Appraisal of the Ambazonia Struggle for Emancipation and Self-Determination. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8274391313.
  20. ↑ "Bishop Rogan College - Minor Seminary". Birocol-com.webs.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  21. ↑ "St. Thomas Aquinas' Major Seminary Bambui Announces Ruby Jubilee Celebrations". L'Effort Camerounais. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  22. ↑ "Press Fellowship". Wolfson College Cambridge. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "Nuffield Foundation". Nuffield Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  24. ↑ "60 Years of Grace: BIROCOL Honors Its Glorious Past". Diocese of Buea. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  25. ↑ Asongu, Januarius Jingwa (2025). Forced Unity: A Critical Appraisal of the Ambazonia Struggle for Emancipation and Self-Determination. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8274391313.
  26. ↑ "Fellows". Press Partners. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  27. ↑ "ALTS Praises Supreme Court". Association of Local Television Stations (via UNC.edu). 28 February 2000. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  28. ↑ "Rockford College professors add to curriculum vitae". Rockford Register Star. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  29. ↑ "Herzing University Official Site" . Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  30. ↑ "Fort Hays State University Official Site" . Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  31. ↑ "Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Official Site" . Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  32. ↑ "Franklin University Official Site" . Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  33. 1 2 Asongu, Januarius (2025). Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies: A Pocket Dictionary for Students and Professionals. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8261864639.
  34. ↑ Asongu, Januarius (2025). The Human Firewall: How Organizational Culture Shapes Cybersecurity Behavior. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8-278-52344-4.
  35. ↑ "Now Announcing: The Ai4 2021 Cybersecurity Summit Speaker Lineup". EIN Presswire. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  36. ↑ Asongu, Januarius Jingwa (2025). Forced Unity: A Critical Appraisal of the Ambazonia Struggle for Emancipation and Self-Determination. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8274391313.
  37. ↑ "PR: Geneva Presentation" (PDF). Alliance for Peace and Justice. November 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  38. ↑ "45th Activity Report of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights" (PDF). African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  39. ↑ Asongu, Januarius J. (January 2025). "Triple-Masking and Mental Health: The Burden of Identity Management for Autistic LGBTQ+ Christians in Conservative Church Settings". Academia.edu. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  40. ↑ Asongu, Januarius (2025). Holistic Resilience: Navigating the Intersection of Faith, Identity, and Mental Health. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8274144797.
  41. ↑ Asongu, Januarius (2025). Hidden Selves: The Psychology of Masking in Marginalized Communities. Saint Monica University Press. ISBN   979-8274597487.
  42. ↑ Asongu, Januarius J. (January 2025). "Papal Authority, Episcopal Resistance, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: The Infallibility and Obedience Crisis". Multidisciplinary Journal of Transformation Education. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  43. ↑ "APA Member Directory". American Philosophical Association. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  44. 1 2 Asongu, Januarius Jingwa. "Trust Science, Not Scientism: A Critical Synthetic Realist Critique". Academia.edu. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  45. ↑ Asongu, Januarius Jingwa. "The Definition and Development of Critical Synthetic Realism". Academia.edu. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  46. ↑ Asongu, Januarius Jingwa. "An Unholy Matrimony between the Bible and African Cosmology: Deconstructing Witchcraft through Critical Synthetic Realism". Academia.edu. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  47. ↑ "National Association of African American Studies". NAAAS. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  48. ↑ "Environment & Rural Development Foundation - Conserving Wildlife and Protecting Fragile Environments". ERuDeF. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
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