Dominican University: A long history of promoting mind and body

The Dominican University Ibadan, Nigeria, holds a special place in the history of university education around the world as the first university founded by the Order of Preachers on the African continent. The Dominican Order has been involved in university education for more than 800 years and is known for producing towering intellectuals such as Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas.

In Nigeria, the Dominican University has a rich history dating back to 1951 when three members of the Order of Preachers arrived in Lagos from the United States of America.
Their mission was to establish and administer a Catholic Prefecture in Sokoto, northern Nigeria, the Prefecture that is today’s Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. While in Lagos, the Dominicans ran a Thomistic Institute that introduced young Nigerians to the thought of Thomas Aquinas, laying the groundwork for future engagement with Nigerian intellectuals.

In 1968, Dominicans chose Ibadan as a place for the formation of Nigerian and Ghanaian candidates for the Order. Ibadan, an ancient city of hills and red roofs, offered a double advantage to a religious order with an intellectual mission: it is home to one of Nigeria’s leading universities, the University of Ibadan, and it is home to the Seminary of Ss Peter and Paul in Bodija, one of Nigeria’s oldest Catholic seminaries.

The Dominican Institute was the embryo out of which the Dominican University was born. The institute became an affiliate school of the University of Ibadan in 1993 and offered a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy as well as a Bachelor of Theology degree as an affiliate of the University of St Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome, and a Master of Arts degree in Theology as an affiliate of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America.

The Dominican University was granted a provisional license by the federal government of Nigeria in 2016, marking the birth of the first university of the Order of Preachers on the African continent. The university has a strong foundation in philosophy and theology, with an impressive track record, excellent facilities, enormous human resources, and more than 800 years of Dominican involvement in tertiary education.

The upcoming walk at the Dominican University is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the university’s commitment to the all-round harmonious development of the spirit, mind, and body. The walk is an initiative of the university’s Health and Safety Committee and is part of efforts to promote healthy living among students and staff.

The importance of physical exercise and its impact on mental and emotional health cannot be overstated. Regular exercise can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, while also improving cognitive function, memory, and concentration. It also promotes cardiovascular health, strengthens bones and muscles, and helps maintain a healthy weight.

As an institution committed to the development of the whole person, the Dominican University recognizes the importance of promoting physical exercise and healthy living. The upcoming walk is an opportunity for students, staff, and members of the community to come together and promote healthy living. The Dominican University has a rich history of commitment to the development of the whole person and is proud to be the first university founded by the Order of Preachers on the African continent. The upcoming walk is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the university’s rich history and commitment to promoting physical exercise and healthy living.

.Professor Ekwuazi, is the Acting Vice Chancellor, Dominican University, Ibadan