The Federal Government of Nigeria has granted Maranatha University, Lagos, the full licence to operate as a private university in Nigeria.
The license dated September 2, 2024, was signed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris. J. Maiyaki.
The management said the provisional licence given to Maranatha University at inception was replaced with a full (statutory) licence after the university met the Educational Acts Cap E3 of 2024 requirements that stipulate the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and other operational guidelines. A Licence Review Exercise was conducted at Maranatha University by NUC from April 14 to 16, 2024.
Other pieces of information contain in a statement issued by the ubiversity management stated that: “The institution is a Christian faith-based university, with a vision to be a world-class university built on tripod of Faith, Excellence and Integrity, contributing to the growth and development of tertiary education in Nigeria and globally.
“Its mission is to provide innovative academic programmes that will grant individuals access to qualitative education and knowledge for service mankind. Religious education and training is compulsory in Maranatha University. Refreshing joint Staff/ Students Fellowship takes place by 12.00-1.00pm).”
It noted that Maranatha is a Greek word that means ‘The Lord is coming’, adding that it is a symbolic evangelism and reminder of the imminent second coming of Christ.
“The university has four faculties and 20 programmes, including Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences; Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences; Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Faculty of Engineering.
“It’s an urban university with adequate accommodation, It has two campuses in Lagos. The Okota Campus at Okota-Isolo, and the Lekki Campus at Km 47 Lekki-Epe expressway. Academic activities is yet to start at Lekki Campus ( Lekki campus is for the proposed Faculty of Law and Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences). On both campuses, there is secure residential accommodation for male and female students. It has modern infrastructure for learning, including Labs for practicals and adequate classrooms, some with interactive boards, and a central Library adequately equipped,” the statement added.
The management added that on the academic culture, “we are already laying sound foundation through workshops and conferences and Distinguished Lecture Series. The university hosted several guest speakers, including the Director of NITDA Hub, Unilag, Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa, in May 2003, who delivered a lecture on ‘Education Design and Delivery in the World of Robots and AI’, and Prof. Toyin Falola of University of Texas at Austin, USA, who delivered the first University Distinguished Lecture on October 24, 2023, on ‘Technologies and African Cultures’.
“On linkages and partnerships, the university is a member of the Conurbation of Universities in Lagos. There are linkages with Institutes in Nigeria and working on MoUs with foreign institutions as far afield as Poland.
“The university application of technology includes campus-wide internet facility, application of cutting-edge software to streamline administrative operations, enhanced teaching and learning, and efficient communication channels, even as staff training is given adequate attention.”