1. Preamble

 The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has set for itself, the task of establishing a private university to be known as Hope Waddell University. Education is not education if it fails to inculcate values that impact positively on the lives of individuals, institutions and the society at large. Consequently, education worldwide is constantly evolving towards better quality and competitiveness. Nigerian universities are yet to be positioned to play a major role worldwide now and in the near future. Hope Waddell University is to be a major contributor to knowledge upgrade through providing value-added education that will respond to the needs of the society.

 

2. The Proprietors of Hope Waddell University, The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN) first came into Nigeria in 1846.  From that time to the present, the Church has done a lot to fulfill its vision of preaching the gospel and providing education and development in Nigeria. Presbyterian Primary and Secondary Schools have been established all over Nigeria and so have colleges and specialized institutions one of which is the famous Hope Waddell Training Institution, established in Calabar in 1895 and which became the training ground for most Nigerian elites in politics, economics, religion, medicine and the academia, etc.  Some of the products of the institution include Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Elder Ezeogo Akanu Ibiam, and Sir Dennis Osadebey. Others include Chief N. U. Akpan, Chief Dr. Okoi Arikpo and Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya and numerous others.  The Church hopes to carry on this legacy of excellence in the Hope Waddell University, to produce middle and higher level manpower for the Church, the society and the Nation.

 

The thinking of the management of the church is that the Church should continue to be an invaluable partner in Nigeria’s effort to make speedy progress in the provision of opportunities for improved knowledge, morality, development, good governance and national unity.  Hence the desire to seek for permission to establish a conventional University.

 

The Church began the move to establish the university in 2003. The responsibility was given to the Education Department with The Rev. Prof. E. N. Onwu as the Convener and the Rev. K. U. Eme as the Secretary. At the 17^th General Assembly held in Calabar in August 18 – 25, 2006, it was agreed to locate the proposed University at Ohafia, Abia State. In November, 2008, the Principal Clerk of the General Assembly, The Rev. N. N. Eme, on behalf of the General Assembly set up the first Hope Waddell University Implementation Committee of twenty-two members with Prof. Anya O. Anya as the Convener and The Rev. K. U. Eme as the Secretary.

 

The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria is the sponsor of Hope   Waddell University. The Church was established in April, 1846, when, at the invitation of the two kings of Calabar, a team of missionaries from the Church of Scotland Mission, led by Rev. Hope Masterton Waddell, arrived Calabar where they set up the first congregation of the Church. From Calabar, the Church began to grow. In 1858, it was constituted as the Presbytery of Biafra. This Presbytery of Biafra metamorphosed into The Presbyterian Synod of Biafra in 1921. The Church continued to witness remarkable growth until 1945, when the Presbyterian Church of Biafra was constituted, with the Synod as its highest court. In the same year, the white missionaries handed over the church administration to Nigerians. The Presbyterian Church of Biafra became the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Nigeria in 1952. By 16^th June, 1960, the Mission Church integration was completed and the Church changed its name to The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. In 1985, the Synod met in Afikpo and agreed to create Regional Synods with the General Assembly as the highest decision making body. This decision materialized on the 22^nd August, 1987, when the General Assembly was inaugurated at Duke Town Presbyterian Church, Calabar. After the creation of the General Assembly, two regional Synods were created in 1988. These were the East and South-East Synods. As at today, The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has nine regional Synods.

 

Since its advent in Nigeria, the Presbyterian Church has been vigorously involved in evangelism and social action in fulfillment of its divine obligations.

a.                  Evangelism: From its humble beginning in Calabar in 1846, the Church has been firmly established in Nigeria with parishes spread across the country. Congregations and parishes have been established in all parts of the country and Mission Presbytery set up even as far as Cotonou and Lome covering the Republics of Benin and Togo respectively.

b.                  Education: over the years, the Church has been involved in the education sub-sector through the numerous primary and post-primary schools established and run by Parishes, Presbyteries and Synods.

It is interesting to note that in 1895, the Church founded one of the foremost educational institutions in Nigeria – the Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar. The institution has since been in the fore-front of producing the educated elites of this country, the number of which includes such names as the first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the first Governor of Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Akanu Ibiam. In furtherance of its commitment to the education sub-sector, the Church has established a degree-awarding institution – the Presbyterian Health Institute, Uburu, Ebonyi State. The Institute, which is affiliated to the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, in the award of degrees in Nursing and related disciplines, is an arm of the Presbyterian Joint Hospital (PJH), Uburu.

In addition to the Institute, the Church runs two degree-awarding Theological Institutions-Hugh Goldie Lay Theological Training Institution, Arochukwu, Abia State (founded in 1918) and the Essien Ukpabio Presbyterian Theological College, Itu, Akwa Ibom State (1994)

 

It is in furtherance to its commitment to the uplift of the education sub sector that the Church is establishing the Hope Waddell University.

 

3. Justification For The University.

The establishment of Hope Waddell University is predicated on the following reasons:

 

a.            Desire to Run an Ideal University. For over a decade now, university education in Nigeria has experienced a deep crisis that has resulted in the decline of standards. The system has been characterized by labour unrest, gross under funding, inadequate human and material resources, etc. The combined effect of these factors accounts for low level teaching and practicals, low research activities and output and declining national service. It is thus the desire of Hope Waddell University to operate a system that will take care of these and at the same time, offer Christian nurture and development such that will enable the production of graduates trained on moral and Christian ethics.

 

 

4. University Location/Siting

Hope Waddell University is located in Okagwe Ohafia (along Umuahia-Arochukwu Road) in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. The campus can be reached within 40 minutes by road from Umuahia, the capital of Abia State. About an hour drive from Abia State University, Uturu, an hour and a half from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, 3 ½ hours from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and some 2 ½ hours from Aba and 3 hours from Port Harcourt and Owerri. Since all these towns are University towns, Hope Waddell University stands to benefit immensely from social and academic linkages with the neighbouring universities.

 

Meanwhile, Ohafia town, the site of the Hope Waddell University is gradually growing cosmopolitan as a result of the presence of many secondary schools including a Federal Government College, a big military barracks and the headquarters of a Local Government.

 

The University will is designed to take off with initial five (5) blocks of buildings namely: Administrative Block, Academic Block, a Cafeteria and two Hostels. All these are to be placed in the first phase. The permanent site is a 122-hectare land. The landlords are prepared to provide more land for future development as the need arises. The permanent site is located in a fertile rain forest belt and makes the practice of agriculture a must-do.

5.      Motto

 The motto, “Excellence, Integrity And Service” is an emboldened encouragement to the students that the University promises to provide all teaching and learning materials as well as every opportunity that will facilitate their growth to whatever they can positively be. They are to be the light to show the way for others to emulate in all endeavours of life.

 

6.      University Logo

The logo of the University consists of the name of the University, and the motto. The motto is Excellence, Integrity And Service which the university aims to achieve in its operations and in the life of its student community. In the middle is the logo of the Proprietor (The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria) standing against the background of the University colours – royal blue (symbolizing royal priesthood), sky blue, which symbolizes the Christian’s eternal hope in Jesus Christ and yellow, the color of gold which symbolises kingship and stands for excellent service.

 

5.      University Colours

The University colours are royal blue, sky blue and yellow. Royal Blue signifies the royal priesthood of Jesus Christ.  The university is motivated by the example of Jesus Christ who was a king and yet lived and worked as a servant. The university will therefore aim to be first among equals through its excellent operations in the academics, service delivery, research and campus life in order to build a generation of well educated, morally upright and service oriented Nigerians that will power this country to true greatness. Sky blue signifies the Christian’s eternal hope in Jesus Christ while yellow, the symbol of kingship, signifies a drive for quality and strength.

 

VISION, MISSION, PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS:

 

2.1              VISION:

A dynamic institution built on academic excellence and the church’s commitment to the regeneration of society toward service to God and humanity.

 

2.2              MISSION:

To participate in God’s action in the development of the right intellectual spiritual and moral persons for the highest standard of leadership and management relevant to the total upliftment of the society.

 

2.1              THE PHYLOSOPHY

The philosophy of Hope Waddell University is to produce the total man who is sound in learning, worthy in character, God-fearing and useful to humanity.

 

2.2              GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goals of the University are:

(a)                To provide access to programmes in the University through the most cost effective methods.

(b)               To improve the output of students in the arts, humanities, social sciences and science related courses.

(c)                To develop graduate work for the rapid development of research and teaching.

(d)               To attract and retain a w ell motivated and highly skilled faculty.

(e)                To strengthen development related research and teaching through the establishment of multi-disciplinary centres.

(f)                To promote the dissemination of knowledge through extension and consultancy services.

(g)               To maintain agreed staffing norms and staff student ratios as the case may be.

(h)               To undertake cost-recovery and cost saving measures as a means of reducing running cost and pegging school fees at allowable levels

(i)                 To promote income-generating and fund raising activities to supplement funds from school fees, grants, endowments etc. as the case may be.

(j)                 To maintain great internal administration of the University through appropriate staff development schemes.

(k)               To develop and improve campus facilities for sports, Christian worship, entertainment and other extra-curricula activities.

(l)                 To enhance the general well-being of all members of the University community.

(m)             To promote gender equality in all facets of the University life.

(n)               To encourage the promotion of religion and morality in government, business and good governance and in private and corporate life.

(o)               To promote in all its studies and commitments ecologically friendly standards.

(p)               To promote inter-religious dialogue and support all efforts towards the peaceful co-existence of all humanity.

 

2.1              STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING THE GOALS AND OBJECTS

In order to achieve these goals, the University consents to:

i.                    Provide state of the art facilities and equipment for teaching and learning, through full computerization of operation, through Internet connectivity and provision of Information and Communication Technology (I.C.T.)

ii.                  Employ the right caliber and quantum of staff that are sufficiently motivated, trained and with opportunities for retraining.

iii.                Make adequate capital base for meeting all capital and recurrent needs of the University.

iv.                Pursue an aggressive linkage programme with neighbouring Universities as well as overseas Universities.

v.                  Develop a robust programme of study and work SIWES and TAAM.