Ajayi Crowther University is a Christian Private University located in Oyo State, Nigeria and founded by the Supra Diocesan Board (West) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). It is named after the First African Bishop to translate the Bible from English to Yoruba; Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther. His works and ministry transcended for generations across the entire West-African sub-continent.
The University started as Christian Missionary School training Institution, Abeokuta, Ogun State in 1853 and Saint Andrews College, Oyo State, Nigeria. It was relocated from Abeokuta to Lagos in 1868 to 1896. In March 1896, it was transplanted to Oyo retrospectively in 1920. At the start, Saint Andrews College, Oyo produced Grade II Teachers Certificate. The Divinity course was introduced for training church ministers and was added to the curriculum between 1910 and 1942 and the proprietorship of the College was transferred from CMS, London to the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). This was a remarkable occurrence in the history of Saint Andrew School. In 1977, government took over the control and administration of all schools in the Nigerian Federation and with this development, the Church of Nigeria was divested of her Proprietorship of the College. However, the Saint Andrews College Old Boys Association (SACOBA) interest and by extension, that of the Church, in the growth and development of Saint Andrews did not wane. Thus, in response to SACOBA’s petition, the erstwhile Oyo State Government upgraded the Institution to NCE campus in 1980 and to the full fledged College of Education in 1985. The final step towards fulfilling the dream of Saint Andrews College becoming a full fledged University was taken on 7th, September, 1999 when the Church of Nigeria granted SACOBA’s request for the establishment of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo at the site of the former St. Andrews College, Oyo under the proprietorship of the Church. It was then granted the license by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to operate as a private University in Nigeria on the 7th of January, 2005.
Fifteen years in operation and it has remained a higher institution living up to moral standards and ideals. The Motto of the School “Scientia Probitas” meaning “Knowledge with Probity” reflects the University’s goals, objectives and philosophy. The School was founded with a vision to being a top-class institution with the pursuit of knowledge and scholarship through teaching, learning, research and exemplary service to humanity. To fulfil this vision, they provide admission to students and employment to staff without any form of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity and disability and produce graduates who have the fear of God and are instilled with a sense of service to humanity and are endowed with a well-rounded education to enable them operate successfully in any environment they find themselves both as private entrepreneurs and top flight workers in the private and public sectors of the nation’s economy. The teaching culture of the University has been built to reflect ethics such as hardwork, justice, truth and honour. The values with which each staff and student operate are Excellence, Spirituality, Moral rectitude, Hardwork and Entrepreneurship.
A University that does not joke with spirituality, the spiritual development goals or overall spiritual development of both the staff and students is directed by the Holy Spirit through the University Chaplain, in accordance with the precepts of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). Their spiritual development goals is to influence the Ajayi Crowther University community for a more vital relationship with God and with others, develop and implement faith-building programmes that encourage students to mature in wisdom and character and motivate them to develop as leaders, who will be ambassadors of God’s grace in the world and to see that graduates have a transformational impact on culture and society through the acquisition of leadership qualities and skills. These spiritual development goals are achieved through Chaplaincy, University Chapel and Church attendance. The Chaplaincy generates spiritual programmes designed to bring out of her graduates the Total Man. The School holds Bible class once in a week where students meet in groups in their respective halls of residence to have an in-depth study of the Bible for an hour, Discipleship class which is an eight-week discipleship programme designed for new converts, new students before they join any activity group in the Chaplaincy, as well as those who wants to grow in the faith, power vigil, etc.
They operate eight faculties namely, Faculty of Education, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Humanities, Law, Management Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and have both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. List of courses include Accounting, Actuarial science, Banking and Finance, Biochemistry, Business Administration, Chemistry, Christian Studies, Computer Science, Economics, English Language, Geology, History and International Studies, Industrial Chemistry, Law, Mass Communication, Microbiology, Physics and Physics with Electronics.
The present Vice Chancellor, Professor Timothy Adebayo is the fourth Vice Chancellor of the University. He was a former Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso.
Ajayi Crowther University is known for its strong moral values and intellect.
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