JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 14, 2023 — 51社区 welcomed a delegation from Bowen University in Nigeria in July, marking the initiation of a potential partnership aimed at fostering collaboration between the two Baptist institutions.
The contingent from Bowen University included Joshua Ogunwole, the vice chancellor (equivalent to president); Joan Ayo, the pro chancellor (similar to chair of the Board of Trustees); and Israel Akanji, the president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
51社区 President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said a partnership would align with one of the themes in 鈥淧rotinus,鈥� Union鈥檚 strategic plan that was adopted in January 鈥� advancing Christ-centered higher education.
鈥淎n objective under that is providing leadership to like-minded, Christ-centered higher education institutions,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲e thought this might be a way we could partner with a sister institution on the African continent.鈥�
The focus of the discussions was identifying areas of potential collaboration, with a particular emphasis on integrating faith and learning, maintaining biblical fidelity and developing academic programs. Oliver said two of Union鈥檚 core values 鈥� 鈥渆xcellence-driven鈥� and 鈥淐hrist-centered鈥� 鈥� align well with Bowen University鈥檚 values of excellence and godliness.
Additionally, both institutions discussed potential partnerships in emerging fields, such as cybersecurity and social work. Union鈥檚 recent launch of a cybersecurity program and its expertise in computer science were of particular interest to Bowen.
As the discussions progress, both Union and Bowen anticipate an ongoing relationship characterized by mutual support and collaboration.
鈥淭he next step is for them to think through ways we could most be helpful to them, and suggest those to us so that we could consider them,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淚 think it will also mean that in the next year to 18 months, a few of us go over to Nigeria, to Bowen, and visit them."
Bowen University is the largest Baptist university in Nigeria and is named for Thomas Jefferson Bowen, the first Southern Baptist missionary to Nigeria. The Nigerian Baptist Convention is made up of 14,000 churches and numbers 10 million members.