All Nations University Officially opens in Ghana September

The All Nations University established at Koforidua in Ghana officially opens its doors to 200 students in September 2002. The Accreditation Board for Higher Education in Ghana has given credentials to the University to operate as the fifth private church-based university in Ghana.

This good news was revealed by Dr. Charles Edebiri, Vice President of the University (in charge of International Relations, Research and Technology) in an exclusive interview with the Ghanaian News at his Toronto Office on July 22, 2002. “The All Nations Full Gospel Church has a unique vision for Ghana, and since 1992 has put together a comprehensive plan to establish a world-class tertiary institution of learning to produce graduates as leaders into all facets of society. "Ours is different from all other private Universities in Ghana,”

Dr. Edebiri said beaming with confidence. The uniqueness of the All Nations University which is an initiative/project by the All Nations International Development Agency (ANIDA), a wing of a Toronto-based church called the All Nation Full Gospel Church with branches in Canada, Ghana and USA could be seen under the following:

COURSES

The All Nations University will offer degree courses, initially in three domains. These are, B.Sc. in Business Administration with a focus on entrepreneurship; B.Sc. in Computer Science and B.A. in Biblical Studies with a minor in Business Administration. The duration for each program is 4 years. The program in Biblical Studies will admit 30 Students out of the total enrolment of 200 at commencement this September.

The Biblical Studies will not be a theology program; however there will be some content of systematic theology to enable students gain a sound Biblical foundation for their faith as well as expose them to other forms of Religion. Admission requirements for the courses are the same as for all universities in Ghana as directed by the Council for Tertiary Education in Ghana. However, all students will have to pass the All Nations University Placement Examination to be held for the first time in Ghana and in Toronto on September 15, 2002.

CURRICULUM

The curriculum of the University will be championed by technological skills. It is designed to meet the practical needs of the Ghanaian society and in Africa. For example, in Computer Science, Students will be taught human computer interactions. Students will also learn project management, Introduction to internet, inter-net working technology and basic foundation courses will be taught in the first year. Moreover, the University will have an interdisciplinary curriculum.

FACULTY The University has embarked upon recruitment of faculty both locally (within Ghana) and internationally. According to Dr. Edebiri there will be a ratio of 3 local faculties to 1 international. Faculty members will be encouraged to become Fulbright scholars and search for grants and fellowships for research. They will also be encouraged to do or facilitate research publications.

RESEARCH:
The Vice President of the University disclosed that All Nations University has already acquired 10,000 volumes of books, current journals and real time access via the internet, which should enable the 200 students to do meaningful research.

FEES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
The University which is a day institution will charge US $750 per student for a semester. Its fee is among the lowest charged by private universities in Ghana. This is because ANIDA is non-profit organization, which has a mission to equip ordinary Ghanaians for national development.

FACILITIES AND EXPANSION
The University has acquired a vast plot of land at Effiduase near Koforidua on which the All Nations Secondary School will be built in January 2003. This magnificent project will feed the All Nations University and serve as a continuum for the Child school to be partnered by the government of Canada. At present, the University has purchased a 70,000-squared foot storey building at Koforidua, which will house the faculties and classrooms/offices until the third phase of the University Project. This phase will consist of multiple development activities of infrastructure and construction work at the University’s main campus at Effiduase.

The current accommodation at Koforidua consist of facilities for the Centre of Applied Information Technology, Centre for Women Development, 3 microprocessor instruction labs and a 10,000 books students library. Also there would be one Computer for every 2 Students. Really, the All Nations University appears unique and as it opens its doors to the first 200 students on September 30, 2002 Ghanaians will look forward to reaping “good” fruits from the efforts of ANIDA. However there are challenges such as logistic, duties on vehicles and building materials sent to Ghana for the development of the said University, which the Ghana government should assist ANIDA to overcome.

We wish the Ghanaian-born founder and the President of the All Nations University, Rev. Dr. Samuel Donkor God’s blessings for coming to the aid of education in Ghana.