Covenant University
Covenant University is a private Christian university in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. It is affiliated with Living Faith Church Worldwide and is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Association of African Universities and National Universities Commission. Since opening in 2002, Covenant University has become one of the leading universities from Nigeria based on rankings from various organizations, scholarly citations from reputable journals and JAMB statistics.
History and governance
The process of founding Covenant University started in October 1999, one month after the dedication of Faith Tabernacle in Ota. The university is a product of the Liberation Commission and was established by the World Mission Agency and the Living Faith Church Worldwide. Covenant University opened on 21 October 2002 in Canaanland, Ota, with a Pentecostal Christian mission ethos. It was founded by David Oyedepo, the presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, who is chancellor of the university.Pastor Abraham Ojeme was appointed pro-chancellor of the university on 23 September 2013.
Academic programmes and sports
Covenant University academic programmes runs in four colleges: the College of Business and Social Sciences, the College of Leadership Development Studies, the College of Engineering and the College of Science and Technology. Covenant University runs postgraduate programmes in the entire curriculum listed above. Covenant owns a fully functioning stadium facility which is surrounded by a swimming pool as well as a lawn tennis, table tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. Covenant University is also one of the affiliated universities of the Nigeria Private University Games Association.University Library (Centre for Learning Resources)
Covenant University's Centre for Learning Resources, otherwise known as the University's Library, is situated between the female Hall of Residence Dorcas Hall and Esther Hall areas of the campus, and directly opposite the University's chapel. The total floor area of the complex is 11,300m. The Library complex is an edifice with three floors, reputed to be one of the largest in Africa. It is designed as a glass structure. It is located amidst the college buildings, the University Chapel and the Halls of Residence. It is able to accommodate up to 3000 readers and about 500 research staff and postgraduate.Open access publishing
In January 2011 Covenant University adopted a policy that mandated all referred publications in journals, conferences and books to be deposited in the University open access repository. This applied to faculty and post-graduate students alike.Secondary school
was established on October 14, 2010 to cater for the young population within the university environment.Notable alumni
- Anthonia Adenike Adeniji, associate professor of industrial relations and human resource management
- Dolapo 'LowlaDee' Adeleke, filmmaker
- Ric Hassani, musician
- Ishaya Bako, film director and screenwriter.
- Bez, multi-instrumentalist and composer.
- Ini Dima-Okojie, actress and style icon
- Gbubemi Fregene, chef
- Adebukola Oladipupo, actor
- Simi, lyricist and sound engineer
- Spellz, music producer
- Bimbo Ademoye, actress.
- Jennifer Uchendu
- Gloria Oloruntobi
- Baaj Adebule
- Ayoola Ayolola
- Nonso Amadi
- Nonso Bassey
- Chike
Notable faculty members
- Anthonia Adenike Adeniji, associate professor of industrial relations and human resource management
- Professor Eric Maskin, 2007 Nobel laureate
- Professor Ezekiel Adebiyi, first professor of Bioinformatics in West Africa; Vice-president and secretary of African Society for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Professor Emmanuel Maduagwu, professor of Biochemistry and fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and Royal Society of Chemistry.
- Professor Taiwo Abioye, former Deputy Vice Chancellor
- Professor Ekundayo Adeyinka Adeyemi, first professor of Architecture in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa
- Professor Sanjay Misra, Institution of Engineering and Technology premium award recipient.
- Professor Kayode Soremekun, former Dean, College of Development Studies.
- Professor Samuel Ibiyemi, former Dean, College of Science and Technology.
Vice chancellors
- Professor Bola Ayeni
- Dr. Jonathan Aremu
- Professor Aize Obayan
- Professor Charles Ayo
- Professor AAA Atayero
Recent developments and achievements
- Covenant University is a leading private institution in Nigeria based on number of prospective students/applicants that seeks to get admitted; Its admission requirements, cited scholarly journals and annual rankings.
- On September 26, 2018, it became the highest ranked Nigerian university in the world universities ranking of the Times Higher Education.
- Covenant was also recently selected as one of the Africa Centres of Excellence for Development Impact.
- Earlier in November, 2018, Covenant entered the Subject Rankings of the Times Higher Education for the first time in the Business and Economics subject category ranking 501+ globally. Furthermore, in the recently released Engineering subject ranking, Covenant emerged in the 501-600 category.
- In January 2015, it was ranked as the best university in Nigeria according to Webometrics. A publication by Vanguard, that segregated universities in Nigeria into Grade A, B, etc. based on JAMB score ceiling; categorized Covenant University as a "Grade A" university.
- The National Universities Commission in 2016, listed Covenant University as the best private school in Nigeria. In 2017, the university retained its position as Nigeria's best private institution according to the same government agency.
- Again, in August 2017, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry awarded Covenant University with the best private university in Nigeria award. These feat was also reported in 2013 and 2014.
- 2013 & 2014: Best Private University in Nigeria
- 2014: Best Vice Chancellor of Private University in Nigeria.
- 2014: The Centenary ICT Driven University of the Year.
- 2014: The Best Private University in Nigeria
- Covenant University has been statistically rated as the most preferred private university in Nigeria among university seekers since the public availability of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board data in 2014. It was the most sought-after private school in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
- According to Elsevier, data from 2011 to 2015 show that Covenant University publications was rated number one in Wind power, Wind and turbine, Corrosion inhibitors, Carbon steel; and the second best in trade, Remittance, Effect and housing; Residential satisfaction, satisfaction among all universities worldwide. Another report by Daily Independent newspaper which analyzed Elsevier Scival metrics showed that publications in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Management and Accounting from Covenant University ranked tops in Nigeria.
- In 2016, Africa Leadership Magazine listed Covenant University as one of the universities of excellence to be honoured in South Africa.
- At the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development, which is an annual initiative by the Federal government of Nigeria to provide scholarship abroad to students that graduated with first class degrees from Nigerian universities, Covenant University had the highest number of students that scaled through the aptitude examination among all universities in Nigeria during the 2013, 2014 and 2015 academic sessions.
- A 2017 collaborative study by Stutern, Jobberman and BudgIT reveal that graduates from Covenant University are the "most employable" in Nigeria. The study was criticized by some stakeholders for not having a large sample size.
- Techcabal rated Covenant University as having the best software developers in Nigeria. The school was also listed as having one of the best five postgraduate schools in Nigeria by Nigeria Bulletin. In January 2018, a Covenant University student, Ubani Peculiar Chinaemerem was awarded the best marketing student by the among all students in Nigerian universities.
- In 2018, Covenant University won the Nigerian round of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, defeating the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University to become Nigeria's first representative in the global competition. In 2018, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology awarded the school first position in innovative technology among all universities in Nigeria. The school was placed third in the 2017 edition.
Students' Organisation achievements
- Covenant as 2019 National Enactus Champion: History was made on Thursday, July 11, 2019, as West Africa’s No. 1 University, Covenant, at the fourth time of asking, overwhelmed other competitors to emerge overall winner of the 2019 Enactus Nigeria National Competition, held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The victory ensured Covenant to represent Nigeria at the international version of the Enactus competition, which held in September 2019 at the Silicon Valley, California, USA. The team led by the Faculty Advisor, Mr Michael Fagbohun, and Team Leader David Iyiola, a 300 Level Civil Engineering Student, beat 17 other teams from various universities across the country. Some of the teams outwitted by Covenant included the 2018 Champion, Ahmadu Belo University, Zaria, which emerged runner-up in this year’s competition, Bayero University Kano, and Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
- Covenant Enactus emerged 2nd position at 2018 National Competition. Members of the Covenant University Chapter of Enactus, an international nonprofit organisation dedicated to inspiring students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action.
- In 2017 Covenant University Enactus team emerged second best nationwide: The Covenant University Enactus Team has emerged second place winner among the 24 higher institutions that competed at the Enactus Nigeria National Competition, which took place between July 4 and 6, 2017, in Lagos. The 35-man Covenant University’s Enactus Team came tops at the group stage and the semi-finals level where they won a stunning upset over the 7 times back-to-back winner of the competition, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna to qualify for the finals, where they emerged second best.
- Enactus Covenant University emerge 3rd position at 2016 Enactus Competition - Covenant had finished 3rd on her maiden appearance in the competition in 2016. The University missed the ultimate diadem by the whiskers in 2017 and 2018, when she emerged runner-up respectively.
Criticisms