ON THE WEB

Mount Meru University kicks off in September

by Valentine Marc Nkwame

The Arusha based, International Baptist Theological Seminary of Eastern Africa (IBTSEA) will operate as a fully fledged university from September this year.

College Principal, Rev. Harrison G. Olang revealed last week that, the institution had received the letter of Interim Authority, from the Tanzania Accreditation Council last March, awarding the theological college with preliminary registration.

To be known as Mount Meru University, IBTSEA which has graduated more than 300 students since its establishment in 1962, braces itself to serve even greater number of future decision makers form all over the world.

A total of 73 students were awarded with graduation certificates in a colorful ceremony, held at the school premises in Ngaramtoni area, last Saturday, the ceremony which also marked the fourth decade in the college history.

Four Kenyan and one Ugandan students graduated as holders of the first degree in Theology (Bachelor of Theology).

Four others, two Tanzanians, one Kenyan and an Ugandan student graduated in Bachelor of Christian Education, while three other Tanzanians and four Kenyans received  Diplomas in Theology.

Diplomas in Christian Education went to four Kenyan students, three Tanzanians and one student from Rwanda.

The rest were 20students who got awarded certificates in English Proficiency, these were from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Certificates of Bible and Christian Ministry went to 14 other graduands and Certificates in Theology were awarded to 15 students from same countries.

The guest of honor at the ceremony was the Arusha Regional Commissioner, Daniel Ole Njoolay, who among other things promised to solve the problem of lack of adequate land for expansion facing the college.

Other distinguished guests were Baptist Union leaders from all over East Africa, visitors from the United States and college administrators among them, the Director, Bob Headrick, Academic Dean, Joseph Kahindi, Student Dean Ereka Kipimo and the Director of Women and Children Division, Loice Kahindi.

This was the college’s 28^th graduation ceremony and it marked the transition threshold into its Mount Meru University status.

Apart from providing academic training, the college also runs HIV-AIDS awareness programmes for local secondary schools known as “True Love Waits” aimed at teaching the youth to refrain from pre-marital sex.

Mount Meru University is going to be the second one to be established in Arusha region after the Makumira University also, formerly a theological seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT).

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Last modified: July 12, 2002.
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