CU - Academic Pilgrimage Centre

Covenant University is fast becoming an academic pilgrimage centre as other higher institutions in Nigeria visit the campus in droves with the aim of drawing inspiration and tapping into the secret of its success in the pursuit of excellence within a short period of its existence.

Between Wednesday and Saturday, January 17 and 20, 2007, the University played host to visitors from the University of Mkar, a sister Christian university in Benue State, Nigeria.

The visitors, which comprised two staff and 14 students, were in Covenant University, according to their leader, Rev (Dr) Godwin I. Akpet, not only to gain a holistic experience of a Christian university but also to learn from the University, which had become a household name in the pursuit of excellence in higher education, on how to run a mission university successfully.

Rev Akpet, who is also the Dean of Student Affairs of the two-year old institution, said their visit became necessary as the two Universities shared similar vision, adding that the exposure to CU’s campus life, facilities and interactions with its staff and students would help build confidence and widen the horizon of their students.

The University of Mkar delegates were received by the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Daniel Rotimi, on behalf of CU Management and in the course of their visit they were at the University Library, the laboratories, the University Chapel and Studios. They also had the opportunity of attending Students Cell Fellowship, Chapel services and also interacted with CU Students’ Council members.

It was a night of outpouring of encomiums on CU on Friday, January 19, 2007, when the University hosted the visitors to a departure get-together-dinner. Rev Akpet, who was obviously overwhelmed by what he saw during the four-day visit, eulogized the University, using its seven core values.

He said CU was a very spiritual place and that his team was spiritually renewed. He also said almost everybody they met had positive disposition and idea of a new Nigeria, adding that the attitude had rubbed on his students who now display capacity for the future, as they believe that their University would be like of CU.

"We enjoyed the Total Man Concept (TMC) of Covenant University because it thought us how we can become people of integrity", he further said, adding that they also appreciate the University’s dress code.
He commended CU students and staff for their deep sense of responsibility and sacrifice, wishing that their own staff would imbibe such virtues. He promised to introduce CU custom-built Friday Faculty Fellowship and other novel ideas they picked during the visit at the University of Mkar.

He thanked the CU Management, especially the Chancellor whom he said his spirit was visible in everybody they interacted with, adding that the University represent the New Jerusalem everybody was hoping for.

The students of University of Mkar, who were obviously at home with their counterparts from CU, also showered praises on the University as they pointed out many areas CU students and entire University had impacted on their lives within the short period of their visit. Another member of the group, Mr Joseph Antyo, who Coordinates General Studies (GST) in the school, thanked the CU Management for the warm hospitality extended to them and commended them for the effort in making the University a pride of Africa.

In her remarks at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aize Obayan, said CU was not only committed to raising a new generation of leaders for Africa but was also student-driven, adding that the advent of private initiative in education has given a new direction and hope to the higher education context of Nigeria.

She commended the visitors for their feedback on the University and promised that the University would continue to effect change in all parameters as far as the entire curriculum of the University was concerned.

The Vice Chancellor also thanked the management of University of Mkar for making CU, a dream centre, a site for their visit and hoped that the delegates were able to catch a dream for their enthronement, noting that Africa would not remain a dark continent as its light had come.

The University of Mkar also has a female Vice Chancellor who shares the same professional / academic background in Counselling with Prof Obayan, Vice Chancellor of Covenant University.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Registrar, Yemi Nathaniel, told the visitors that they were being received not only as friends but that there was a deep connection between the two universities, which had to do with God’s agenda for the nation.

He therefore advised the students to recognize God factor as the bedrock of their University and thereby aligning with its vision and ideals, adding that instructions were not made to punish them but to make them.

Other members of CU Management Team present at the occasion included, the Dean of College of Science & Technology, Prof James Katende, the Dean of College of Human Development, Prof Charles Ogbulogo and the Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies, Prof Olusola Ojo. Others were the Director of Financial Services, Mr. N Taiwo, the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Daniel Rotimi, the University Chaplain, Pastor Yakubu Kezi and the Acting Director, Centre for Learning Studies, Mr. Chris Nkiko.

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