NUC Grants Full Accreditation to Nigeria's First Psycho-Spiritual Institute

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full accreditation to two new postgraduate programmes at the Psycho-Spiritual Institute, a Nigerian campus under the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation. The approved courses include a Postgraduate Diploma in Psycho-Spiritual Trauma Healing and a Master’s Degree in Psycho-Spiritual Therapy. The institute operates in affiliation with Veritas University, Abuja.

Speaking during a briefing in Abuja, Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, Executive Director of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, announced that the institute welcomed its first batch of students. "We are pleased to have 13 candidates starting the two-year Master of Arts degree in Psycho-Spiritual Therapy, and 30 students embarking on the one-year postgraduate diploma in Psycho-Spiritual Trauma Healing," he said.

Since 2016, the institute has offered a certificate course in Basic Psycho-Spiritual Trauma Healing Skills, catering to professionals such as medical workers, humanitarian personnel, psychologists, counsellors, religious leaders, educators, and social workers. The course targets individuals who interact regularly with distressed or traumatized people and is designed to enhance their skills in providing emotional and psychological support.

Rev. Fr. Ehusani explained that the institute integrates contemporary psychotherapeutic techniques with religious and spiritual traditions, considering Africa's unique socio-cultural context. The goal is to equip students to function as psycho-spiritual therapists in various settings, including hospitals, elderly care facilities, drug rehabilitation centres, and other institutions across Africa.

The postgraduate diploma will be delivered through a hybrid format, combining online learning with brief in-person sessions each semester. In contrast, the master's programme is a fully residential two-year course featuring academic training, one-on-one counselling, spiritual guidance, and growth therapy sessions to foster deep personal transformation.

Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Rev. Fr. Ehusani noted the urgent need for such programmes given the persistent influence of religion in Africa. "Despite the global wave of secularism, the deeply religious nature of African societies means addressing psycho-emotional challenges must also involve spiritual and cultural considerations," he stated.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Veritas University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku, commended the NUC for approving the unique affiliation, noting that the institute's curriculum is unlike any other NUC-approved programme. "This recognition is a courageous step by the NUC, affirming the relevance of psycho-spiritual training in Nigerian universities," he added.