ICU Brief Presentation – by Rev. Fr. Wence Madu | ICU

Claretian University Imo (ICU): A Brief Presentation of its Name, Nature, and scope of the University  Motto: Redeeming the future through Education  by Wence Madu, (Rev Fr)

1. The Origin of the name “IMO” and “Claretian” attached to the Claretian University

IMO is one of the 36 States in Nigeria. It is located in the heartland of the South Eastern part of Nigeria. This location is the home of most populous Igbo tribe of Nigeria who are mostly Christians. The Claretian University will be a multi campus Institution and will located in parts of the Eastern Heartland, one of the most secure locations in Nigeria, over 600 kilometers from Abuja, central Nigeria. It will located within the Equatorial rain forest tropical belt. IMO State Government is partnering with the Claretian Missionaries as Investor to develop the University.

 

The name “Claretian” represents both a personal name and the spirit of work of a certain Spanish Catholic clergy and educationist of the modern times, St. Anthony Mary Claret. He lived in the time of socio-political crisis in Spain during which he was able to organize ‘educational Institutions for poor children, and some of those schools were organized in collaboration with public government agencies and others – a partnership venture. Those institutions can be classified today as ‘vocational or technical schools’. He equally produced many volumes of literary works (about 144 volumes) which tried to give responses to the many problems of the moment. Some of his works which are displayed in Claretian Archives in Vic-Spain deal on theology, law, medicine, music, sociology, and history. An important dimension of his educational gift was his foundation of a missionary society with the mandate to attend to whatever is most urgent, timely and effective in the society in which its members find themselves.

 

Therefore, in imitation of his name and spirit of work, especially in the trend of the mandate to attend to the urgent and timely needs of the society, the Claretian University is therefore born to assist Imo State Government in her laudable policy of creating access to tertiary education for the youth of Imo State and Nigeria. It is on record that Imo State has the highest number of candidates who participate in Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examination annually for the past six years and sponsors the highest number of students for the WASC and NECO examinations each year. Hence, an additional educational institution like Claretian Imo University is a plus for the state in solving its urgent educational needs.

2. The Nature of the University: A University with International Scope

In a period of economic crisis that Nigeria is experiencing in all sectors today, it is only laudable to have an institution like the Claretian University come on board. The Claretians believe that the burden of running of public educational institutions should not be left to the Government alone and have therefore leveraging on its international spread, in tandem with its Spirit to work with Government as credible private partner, to have access to other resources and funding available for development, research and training in public tertiary educational institutions. It is worth mentioning that the Claretians form an international body that is spread across over 65 countries in the world. The members of this international body support one another’s projects, especially the ones that follow the strategic attention to the most urgent, timely and effective needs of the society. Presently, Claretian Missionaries run branded and flourishing Universities in Italy, Spain, Philippines, India and Brazil. Claretian University of Batatais Brazil is working in partnership agreement with the Claretian Imo University to set up an International Branded University in Nigeria. Claretian University will be an innovative University in the true spirit of the second Vatican Council, “true education is directed towards the formation of the human person in view of his final end and the good of the society to which he will, as an adult, have a share”. Thus, our University will be on the vanguard for the reform in Educational system in Nigeria, aimed at reviving the core values, ensuring that young people begin to acquire an improved sense of responsibility in freedom.

3. Scope

It is our hope and prayers that the Claretian University will have campuses spread within it catchment areas where we will offer the traditional Undergraduate and postgraduate studies as well as Technology enhanced blended Distance education. Main areas of the University will include:

1. Agriculture and Human Sciences.

• Philosophy
• Theology
• Religious Studies
• Agricultural production (Crops and animal)
• Agricultural Processing
• Agribusiness
• Fisheries Technology

1. Management

– Administration (Public and Business)

– Library Science

– Accountancy

– Computer Science

– International Business and Foreign Trade

– Publicity and Advertising

– Information Technology

1. Engineering

• Production Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Invention Technology, STEM

1. Law

• Legal and notary services
• Law school

1. Education

• Physical and health education
• Teacher training education
• Arts Education
• Clinical Pastoral Education

1. Health Sciences

• Biomedical Forensic Science
• Nursing
• Aesthetics & Cosmetology
• Physiotherapy
• Nutrition & Dietetics
• Emergency Management Technology (occupation, Respiratory, etc.)
• Medicine & Dentistry
• Public Health
• Psychiatry

4. Claretian University will be a public University to be managed by the Claretian Missionaries of Nigeria. This University is already approved through the Act of parliament and Laws passed by the Imo State House of Assembly, Law No 4, of June 2015. Government of Imo State has made available to the Claretians large expanse of land for the take -off of the University. The process of recognition of the University through the National Universities commission, a regulatory Body for the establishment of University in Nigeria is expected to be concluded within the first quarter of 2018.

5. This university will be funded through fees payable by students, grants from Government, public and private agencies, contributions from Claretian Missionaries and donor agencies. In line with the free education policy of His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Imo indigenes attending the Claretian University will have 20% tuition remission, while talented students and verifiable students with poor economic background would benefit from Claretian University Scholarship Fund established by the Claretian Missionaries. The University will encourage, students work program on the campus.

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