Akebe Luther King Abia (King) is an Associate Professor of Applied and Environmental Microbiology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Senior Visiting Scientist at the University of Venda, South Africa. He began his journey as a microbiologist in 2000 in Cameroon. Inspired by an event he witnessed when he was only 13 years old, King is determined to work towards healthier environments for present and future generations.


King trained as a microbiologist in Cameroon and South Africa. He also obtained a training certificate in technologies for integrated water management at the University of Antwerp and Ghent, Belgium, with a VLIR scholarship.


Over the past ten years, his research has focused on, but not limited to, the dynamics of microbial pathogens in aquatic ecosystems under changing climatic conditions, antimicrobial resistance surveillance in the environment and how this relates to humans and animals through the One Health approach, using culture and molecular techniques, including metagenomics and whole-genome sequencing, the impact of anthropogenic activities like burial practices on groundwater resources, the use of different nanomaterials to eliminate pathogenic bacteria from water and wastewater.


King has served in many national and international expert committees on environmental microbiology issues. He is currently a reviewer for grant proposals at the South African National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa Water Research Commission (WRC), and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). He also serves as a reference group member for the WRC. As a reviewer for over 60 high-impact factor peer-reviewed journals and guest editor for many others, King believes in keeping updated on current microbiological research to ensure that the latest approaches.


One of King’s biggest goals is capacity development, which is also enshrined in the objectives of the Environmental Research Foundation. Having supervised and mentored numerous students from different institutions, King believes that more needs to be done through ERF to ensure that many other young scientists, especially in developing countries, get the assistance and training they need to build a carrier as seasoned environmental microbiologists.


Many of King’s projects achieved so far have been through national and international collaborations. Current international collaborations include the USA, Canada, The UK, Egypt, UAE, Algeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria. “Collaboration is key to scientific advancement and success”