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Journal Of African Instituted Church Theology
Second Contact Session of Abuja, Nigeria Campus
The seminary is growing with this extension programme.
The Abuja Campus is an extension programme of the Good News Theological College and Seminary, Accra, Ghana. The Campus offers a two-year diploma in Pastoral ministry programme primarily designed for member-churches of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), in Nigeria. Each semester is divided into two Contact Sessions. The duration of each Contact Session is two weeks.
Nineteen students were enrolled for the commencement of the programme in June 2009. At that time there were few books at the library. The students had no other resources apart from what were in the library. Most of the students commuted from various places to and from classes. Power supply at the house where classes were held was erratic. Students had to buy food on the street during lunchtime. In spite of all these challenges both faculty and students were happy with the humble beginning of the Abuja Campus. The Faculty gave their best during class hours. At the end of the First Contact Session both Faculty and students dispersed, praising God and praying that the learning environment would improve.
While the school was on recession, Administrators of the seminary submitted a report to the Board. The Board in turn submitted the report to the larger body of the OAIC at Owerri, Imo State, on June 25, 2009. At that meeting some of the students were invited to express their experience during the First Contact Session. The Executive Committee of the OAIC was enthused at the testimonies of the students and that of other church leaders who sponsored some of the students. An appeal was made to the leaders to support the seminary. Many pledges were made at the meeting.
The Second Contact Session of the First semester commenced on 10th August 2009. Many changes took place during the break period between the First Contact Session and the Second Contact Session. Some of the changes are:
Christ Holy Church International gave money for the purchase of three new computers, one printer, three UPS, and a scanner. All these are in the library. The three computers have been wired to receive wireless internet connectivity. This has afforded students and Faculty to do some research on the internet and browse in a cool library.
An air conditioner has been fixed at the library, thanks to Province 14 of the Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Church (ESOCS). Leaders of the ESOCS provided free accommodation for students, The Principal, Vice Principal and one other lecturer. As a result, student-student interaction and teacher-student interaction improved tremendously. Students had enough time to study at night in the classroom which is on the same compound as the residence. After-class interaction between students and faculty has also been enhanced.
A caterer was contacted by the ESOCS to prepare meals for the students to buy. The students, who are mostly pastors and adults holding responsible positions in society, have been saved from the embarrassment of eating by the wayside.
Ms. Theresa Abok, a Catholic and a lecturer of the University of Abuja was asked to teach Introduction to the Old Testament. Rev. Nesta Andy-Philip, a minister of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), was appointed the Chaplain of the seminary. Rev. Nesta is also one of the lecturers. The appointment of Rev. Nesta as chaplain has boosted the spirituality of the seminary. Students meet every evening to pray and sing praises to God. The mid-day worship services have added some quality to the spirituality of the seminary community.
The students have not left themselves out of the growing process of the infant seminary. Some of them buy daily newspapers for the library. One student bought a wall clock to be used at the library. Another student bought an English Dictionary for use at the library. A female student periodically prepared meals for the 19 students and three residential faculty members. All these were done free of charge.
Academically, it was satisfying to see students, who till June 2009 had never seen Greek alphabets, reading and translating some portions of the Bible from Greek to English. Another interesting aspect of the study was to hear students critiquing the sermons of their peers after each preaching practice. We are grateful to the Board members of the seminary and the Executive Committee of the OAIC. We are particularly grateful to Professor J. A. M. Otubu, who has been a father-on-hand to both students and faculty.
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