Brief History of Clifford University, Abia State
In a remarkable testament to the enduring legacy of dedicated missionaries and the commitment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Clifford University in Owerrinta, Nigeria, has been granted its charter by the Federal Ministry of Education.
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In a remarkable testament to the enduring legacy of dedicated missionaries and the commitment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Clifford University in Owerrinta, Nigeria, has been granted its charter by the Federal Ministry of Education. This significant milestone comes following rigorous inspections and recommendations by the National Universities Commission (NUC), making Clifford University one of the 144 tertiary institutions owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide.
The roots of Clifford University can be traced back to the selfless efforts of Pastor and Mrs. Jesse Clifford, who left their home in England to spread the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) message in Eastern Nigeria. Commissioned by the General Conference (GC) in 1905, they embarked on a mission that would profoundly impact the region's educational landscape. Their journey took them from Sierra Leone to Ghana, finally landing in Abua, Rivers State, in 1920. In 1923, they settled in Oghor-Hill Aba, which would become the cradle of Adventist work in Eastern Nigeria. With little more than their faith and a few essential tools—a Bible, a projector, and unwavering determination—the Cliffords began their missionary work. They initially found shelter in the home of a fellow missionary, Pastor A. V. Wilcox, whose name would be remembered in the Wilcox Grammar School Ehere, Aba. At Aba, Pastor Clifford initiated a primary school, laying the foundation for Adventist education in Eastern Nigeria.
Among Pastor Clifford's students were individuals who would go on to make significant contributions to society, including Nelson Ihmuka, Wilson Uzuegbu, Sunday Ubani-Ukaoma, Rovert Nnamdede, James Nwambu, Abraham Nzotta, Adonija Cookey, Josiah Evoh, Daniel Onyeodor, Robert Abaribe, and Philip Onwere, to name a few. With the assistance of Robert Abaribe and Daniel Onyeodor, he established a Bible School and additional primary schools. Under his guidance, Rovert Nwosu and P.E. Onwere qualified as pupil teachers, and B. I. Tikili from Nembe became a headmaster. Chief Nwogu and his kindreds of Umuola Egbelu in North-east Aba provided land for the Cliffords' residence on a leasehold basis.
The journey to establish Clifford University began in earnest in January 2008 during a management meeting of Adventist Secondary Technical College (ASTEC) in Owerrinta. The idea of realizing the "College" aspect of the school's name led to discussions about establishing a college. This proposal was referred to the Executive Committee of the Eastern Nigerian Union Mission (ENUM). During the 2008 ENUM Mid-Year meeting, the ENUM Executives inaugurated a Committee for the establishment of a Vocational College at Owerrinta. Notable members of this committee included Pastor Kanelechi C. K. Nwangwa, Ph.D., Professors Christian U. Iroegbu, Nathaniel C. Nwezeaku, and many others. However, the Committee eventually recommended that, instead of establishing a college, it would be more fitting to create a conventional university in memory of Pastor and Mrs. Jesse Clifford. The ENUM Executive Committee approved this recommendation and chose Owerrinta as the university's location, given the vast land that the Adventist Secondary Technical College had acquired from the Umuogbu kindred.
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Leadership changes within ENUM and the Technical Committee ensued, ultimately leading to Dr. (Mrs.) Yetunde E. Alozie taking over as the Committee's leader. Then, in 2012, a significant development occurred when the Governor of Abia State, Chief T. A. Orji, decided to return some schools to their original missionary owners. This decision resulted in the return of the Adventist schools at Ihie to the Adventist Church. This return, along with the availability of old buildings and a compassionate gesture from Governor Orji, granted the Church the Certificate of Occupancy for both the Ihie and Owerrinta campuses of Clifford University. This move was a critical turning point, enabling the University to begin its journey.
The decision was made to establish a take-off campus at Ihie, while the 112.16 hectares of land already acquired at Owerrinta would be developed as funds became available. Notably, some accomplished alumni of the defunct Adventist High School include individuals like Prof. Christian U. Iroegbu, Prof. Friday M. Mbon, Hon. Emeka Wogu, Navy Commander Ebitu Ukaiwe, Senator Enyinna Abaribe, and Dr. Okezie V. Ikpeazu, the current Executive Governor of Abia State. Clifford University stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Pastor and Mrs. Jesse Clifford's missionary work and the dedication of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in providing quality education to the people of Nigeria. With its charter secured, the university is poised to make a significant impact on the educational landscape, carrying forward the spirit of its missionary founders into a new era of academic excellence.
