ANUC History

Four names resonate in any discourse of the history of ANUC to wit, The Rev. Ishaya G. Baba  (now The Rt. Rev’d Ishaya G. Baba), The Ven. Prof. Laseinde, Rev. Danjuma Byang and Prof. Sam Ale. These were the men that started the vision we are now privileged to run with. Within 1995 and 1997, Rev. Ishaya Baba who was at that time the Chaplain of Chapel of Redemption, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State conceived the emergence of this Association and by the grace of God he communicated same to men who were in sync with the idea – First with Dr. Akin Laseinde (now Ven. Prof. Akin Laseinde) of the Chapel of Faith, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State on Sunday 27th August, 1995 when the then Dr. Leseinde and Baba discussed after service at the Chapel of Redemption, Ahmadu Bello University, Main Campus, Zaria. Baba shared the need for an Association that will bring together all the University Chaplains in view of the uniqueness of our Ministry challenge on the Campus and for the fact that he was young in this Ministry. After Prof. Laseinde bought the idea without hesitation, Baba further shared it with Rev. Danjuma Byang, the then Chaplain of the Chapel of Faith, University of Jos after a service he attended in the Chapel of Faith, Jos while a student at the Theological College of Northen Nigeria (TCNN). Fortunately for Baba, Prof. Sam Ale, the then Chaplain of the Chapel of Victory, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi came to Minister at the Chapel in ABU Zaria. After that meeting, Baba shared his thoughts with him, which he embraced happily. All of them embraced the vision with joy. With these initial meetings and discussions, the dice was cast for the establishment of this heavenly focused and campus oriented Association. The first meeting between these four was then convened by Prof. Sam Ale and was hosted by Rev. Danjuma Byang of the University of Jos in 1998. Those in attendance at this meeting were the host Rev. Danjuma Byang, Prof. Akin Laseinde and Pastor Azuka Ogbolumani.

It was agreed at this meeting that an expanded meeting comprising of Chaplains from all Universities in Nigeria be called and this conference be hosted by Chapel of Faith, Federal University of Technology, Akure. Ondo State. Prof. Akin Laseinde handled the reaching out to other Chapels. At the meeting in Akure formal election into various positions with Professor Sam Ale (Abubakar Tafawa  Balewa University) as President, Rev Canon Adams Onuka (University of Ibadan) as Vice President, Pastor Adewumi (University of Jos) as Secretary, Prof Laseinde was also elected as the PRO of the Association as well as Pastor Azuka Ogbolumani (University of Lagos) as Treasurer. Also in the Akure meeting, it was agreed that the name of the Association be called, ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA UNIVERSITY CHAPLAINS.

This brief history cannot be complete without a mention of the benevolence of the Chapel of Christ our Light (Protestant), University of Lagos that accepted to host the Secretariat when ANUC put forward a formal request to the then Chapel leadership. The Chapel leadership graciously provided us with an office space for this purpose. ANUC remain grateful to the leadership of the Chapel of Christ our Light (Protestant), University of Lagos.

From this background, the Association has grown in tremendous ways and today, by the grace of God we are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja, Nigeria, to formally operate as The Association of Nigeria University Chaplains (ANUC) now with the following persons as members of the Board of Trustees: The Rt. Rev’d. Ishaya G. Baba (Chairman BOT), Rev. Azuka Ogbolumani (Secretary BOT), Rev. Prof. Ishmael Ogboru (Member), Ven (Dr.) Adams Onuka (Member), Rt. Rev Okparaojaku (Member).

By the mercies of the Lord, ANUC have been able to midwife the birth of the Nigeria Association of Polytechnic and College Chaplains (NAPACC). The Association was inaugurated by ANUC on 15th April, 2021 during its 23rd Annual Conference held at Chapel of Redemption, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. A steering Committee led by Rev. Dr. Fred Kerbem Tugh-Hemba of Chapel of Glory, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, as Chairman was equally inaugurated.

ANUC is of the hope that, these growth and open heaven we have enjoyed is spread to other Nations. It was on this basis that we have invited some Chaplains from our neighbouring Country Ghana to be part of this years’ conference.