Dominican Institute of Theology The Master of the Order, Timothy Radcliffe, described the establishment of the Dominican Province of Nigeria and of the Dominican Institute as the two most significant events of Dominican history in Africa in recent times. Its purpose is not merely to provide basic academic formation for the brothers, but also to serve as an intellectual focus for the Province as well as a center of influence on the country as a whole and on the wider world.
In 1989 Chapter petitioned the Master of the Order for permission to start a Graduate Faculty of Religious Studies and to establish the Ibadan Priory as a Centre of Institutional Studies. Damian Byrne granted this request.
The 1992 Chapter ordered those concerned to pursue affiliation of Dominican Institute to the University of Ibadan according to the organizational terms set out in section 1 of the application. The application for affiliation for Philosophy and Philosophy-Religious Studies combined honours, dated 12 May 1992, and was made to Prof. A.B. Oyediran, the Vice-Chancellor of university by Gilbert Thesing, Prior Provincial. The Faculty Board of Arts approved this application on 7 August 1992.
The University visitation team, lead by Professor Lloyd Thompson, came on 17 February 1994. Their report was accepted by the Faculty and by the Committee of Deans of the University of Ibadan.
The Senate approved the affiliation on 26 August 1994 (Senate paper no. 4293). This Senate meeting was extraordinary, being held by special ASUU permission during strike to set up a panel to interview candidates for the offices of the Registrar and Bursar. Fr. Kenny got the Deputy Vice Chancellor to add the affiliation to the agenda. A letter of the V.C. announcing the approval of affiliation was sent on 3 October 1994. On 29 November 1994 the Provincial and the Vice-Chancellor signed the affiliation agreement in the Vice-Chancellor's office.
The Board of Governors in the application of affiliation consisted of Gilbert Thesing (Vice-Provincial Chairman), Chukwubikem Okpechi (Prior of Community, Deputy Chairman), Chris Angelo Otuibe (President), Edward Riley (Vice President), Anthony Amoako-Attah (Registrar), Clement Dioka (Librarian), Nicodemus Ugwu (Bursar).
By the time D.I. started, the members of the Board of Governors consisted of Chris Angelo Otuibe Chukwubikem Okpechi (Prior, Deputy Chairman, Iheanyi Enwerem (President), John Bosco Theme (Registrar), Clement Dioka (Librarian), Gilbert Thesing (Bursar).
The first academic year began with the inaugural Mass celebrated by Bishop Fasina on 10 October 1994, assisted by Bishop Ayo-Maria, who gave the homily. The inaugural President of the Institute was Rev. Iheanyi Enwerem, Ph.D. The first matriculation ceremony was held on 23 February 1995. The initial students included Dominicans, Redemptorists, White Fathers, Oblates of St. Joseph and CICM. The Oblates and CICM, and later the White Fathers, dropped out, while the Benedictines sent two non-degree students for a year each. Present groups with full time students are Redemptorists, Capuchins, Shoenstadts, Carmelites, and Eucharistic Heart Sisters. Since D.I. is a school and not a seminary, admission is open to women and lay people.
In addition to the normal classes a monthly Intellectual Evening Lecture series began in 1995. This has become an attraction for the staff of the University of Ibadan and other academic institutions in Ibadan. In this way the aim of the first Dominicans to come to Nigeria, to set up a Thomistic Institute, is being realized.
The theology programme began in October 1966. Affiliation procedures were initiated with Duquesne University with the visit of Sr. Monique of the Duquesne Faculty of Theology to Iheanyi Enwerem in Ibadan in 1995 and Iheanyi's meeting with the Duquesne officials (Prof. Hannigan, the Chair of the Department of Theology, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and the Deputy President Academics) in the summer of 1996. Sean Kelly, who took over from Hannigan as Chair of the Department, came on visitation to D.I. from 16 to 18 May 1997. Duquesne signed affiliation of this programme with Duquesne University on 12 November 1997 and the next day by the President of D.I. Mike Grey, of the Duquesne Faculty of Theology, visited D.I. again in May 1998 after visiting the Spiritan International School of Theology at Attakwu, Enugu State.
The Grand Chancellor, Timothy Radcliffe, Master of the Order on 29 September 1999 approved the Statutes of the Institute (Prot. 45/99/ 1448). The first Board of Governors set up according to the approved Statues consisting of Thomas McDermott (Chancellor), Iheanyi Enwerem (President), Tony Akinwale (Vice President and Dean), Professor Segun Odunga (U.I.), Dr. Pat Bello, and Chief Chris Ogbechie. They held their inaugural meeting on 7 April 2000.
The Archbishop of Ibadan, Felix Alaba Job, dedicated the D.I. classroom block on 11 December 1999 and lectures in the new building began on 6 January 2000. The first graduation was held on 26 January 2000, with the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, U.I., Prof. Segun Odunuga representing the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, and Archbishop Job in attendance. It is noteworthy that this first graduating class included two who obtained a First Class degree: Michael Akpogirgan and Francis Emeka Nwosu.
All but one of the present full-time staff of D.I. are Dominicans of the Province of Nigeria. Part-time staff comes from Dominicans who are in other work and from lecturers at U.I. and S.S. Peter and Paul Seminary, where many Dominicans also teach courses. Fr. Chevrolet, Missionary of Africa was also part of the community at Ibadan from 1994 to 1998.
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