Worgul Participates in Accreditation Visit for Spiritan University in Nigeria

A Spiritan university under construction in Africa is on its way to accreditation by the Nigerian government.

Dr. George Worgul, theology professor and Duquesne’ coordinator of Africa programs, recently participated in the initial visit by Nigeria’s National Universities Commission for the Spiritan University Nneochi—Abia State. The plan is for the university to attain accreditation by fall, said Worgul, who serves on the institution’s board of trustees.

“I felt that being there turned out to be valuable way beyond what I thought it would be,” said Worgul, who toured the campus, met with local leaders and shared the possibilities of further collaboration with Duquesne, which embraces strengthening ties with Africa as part of its strategic plan.

Land was obtained in 2010 for the private university. It is sponsored by the Nigeria South East Province of Spiritans—the home province of Duquesne Spiritans the Rev. James Okoye, C.S.Sp.; the Rev. Greg Olikenyi, C.S.Sp.; the Rev. Peter Osuji, C.S.Sp.; and the Rev. Elochukwu Uzukwu, C.S.Sp.; and the world’s largest Spiritan province.

Initially, 400 to 700 male and female students are expected to enroll in the undergraduate programs offered in biology and chemistry, education, social sciences, and politics and environmental studies, including architecture. The provincial, the Rev. Peter Agbonome, C.S.Sp., is also an architect who has designed about 200 churches and worked on the new university’s building plans.

Tuition, Worgul said, will be offered at a lower rate than other private universities in Nigeria. “Their goal is not to make money; their goal is to offer an education, particularly to those who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity,” he said, noting that the university was intentionally located in an underserved area. “Higher education is a way to address the challenges of making peace, providing social justice and having development that respects the environment.”

After the accrediting board makes its final visit and grants approval, the university can start filling class rosters and residence halls. Options could be open to integrate the four-year, graduate-level Spiritan International School of Theology in nearby Enugu as a satellite campus and to access some course offerings at Duquesne through video conferencing.

“I gave a speech at one point to the local community, board, Spiritans, politicians and financial supporters of the university about why we were encouraging and helping not just Catholics and Christians, but all Nigerians,” Worgul said. “It’s about the Spiritan initiative to work for peace, to work for justice and to work for the integrity of creation.”