University Teaching and Chaplaincy Dominicans in Nigeria have been directly involved in university ministry since 1967, when Fr. Richard Farmer O.P. came to the university of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, as lecturer in Philosophy and Religion and Gregory Moore joined him as chaplain. Since then Dominicans have maintained an almost continuous presence at Ife both in teaching and chaplaincy.
The chaplaincy at the Obafemi Awolowo University became formalized in 1980 when Bishop Adelakun went to see Fr. Windbacher about the chaplaincy. The Dominicans immediately approved the request and the two Dominicans who were sent there at that time, Frs. Gilbert Thesing O.P. and Iheanyi Enwerem O.P. moved in on October 1980 staying at St. Francis Modakeke but later moved into the campus. The station became a formal house of St. Albert the Great in 1989 and Callistus Iheme came as the chaplain and Oyeshola as superior. Tony Amoako-Attah joined him in 1993 and became superior chaplain in 1995 to present. Many Dominicans are currently involved both in the spiritual and academic life of the campus - of the Obafemi Awolowo University. At the university of Ibadan, Fr. Joseph Kenny O.P. has been teaching since 1979, while Igba Vishigh taught at the University of Jos from 1991 till his death in 2000.
Similarly, in the Lagos area the Dominicans have over the years been chaplains to a number of educational institutions such as Queens College, Yaba, and the Yaba College of Technology. In 1999, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Olubunmi Okogie the Archbishop of Lagos offered the chaplaincy of the University of Lagos to the Dominicans. Fr. Francis Isichei O.P. who has been a lecturer in Educational Philosophy at the University of Lagos since 1993 was subsequently appointed as the chaplain. The Jesuits were chaplains at the University of Lagos from 1963 until the takeover by the Dominicans.
On assumption of his chaplaincy at the University of Lagos, Fr. Isichei immediately sought and acquired land from the university authorities for the erection of a Catholic Center. When the new Catholic Center is completed, it will include a new church with a seating capacity for 1400 worshippers every Sunday, a Father's house for two to three resident priests and a multipurpose hall for activities, counseling and retreat rooms. The need for a new catholic church at the University of Lagos became necessary because the existing ecumenical non-denominational church was built with the protestant concept of praise and worship in mind and therefore not quite adequate for the Catholics. The chaplain for now lives at St. Dominic's Priory and commutes. He is presently spending time mobilizing staff, students and alumni Catholics of the University for the building of the Catholic Center.
Working in a Nigerian university is never confined to teaching or chaplaincy, but involves total immersion in the life of the university, its committees, cultural life, handling of crises, dialogue with people of every faith, and in being part of a think-tank that shapes the destiny of the country through many official and unofficial avenues.
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