It is the first private university in Nigeria and the first Catholic university in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, 14 years after its establishment, Madonna University, has proved to be a blessing in the private university sector in the country, attracting nearly 100 other private universities into the race.
But one interesting thing is that the university has never rested on its oars despite what seems like an unhealthy rivalry among competing private universities scouting for students.
Madonna University continues to fire from all cylinders, remaining committed to its dream of a science/technology-oriented institution.
Initially, the university ran two campuses-the Elele and the Okija which is the main campus and until the Akpugo arm came on board. Today, the university which started with a handful of students now has enough spread across its various faculties.
And for doubting thomases, all it takes is just a trip to the three campuses of the university located to behold its grandeur, a testimony of a multi-million naira investment that can make other institutions go green with envy.
“We want to revolutionize Science and Technology in Nigeria. Madonna University will not only produce graduates that are only worthy in character and learning, but enterprising and creative-minded individuals that will fast-track the nation’s technological pace,” said the university’s sixth Vice-Chancellor Prof Chucks Emmanuel Ezedum.
A professor of Public Health Education from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Ezedum told The Nation that the university will remain committed to the vision of its founding father-Rev Professor Emmanuel Edeh.
The target of the university, Ezedum stressed, is to gradually evolve the Nigerian version of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in the United States.
The university has not experienced cultism, strike, sorting of marks or sexual harassment from lecturers or examination malpractices since its inception.
Ezedum said from faculty staff up to the non-teaching facet, the university management has carefully selected the ‘best hands’ they can find anywhere in the country.
Aside conducive hostel facility for students, Ezedum boasted that a first time visitor will be amazed by the breathtaking ambiance in its three campuses which are also installed with state-of-the-art laboratories.
To further prove critics wrong, Ezedum added that the university’s Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering laboratories are installed with instruments such as the Bishop Pore Pressure trix-axis and Gas Chromatography which, aside their eye-popping prices, are hardly found in universities.
He said: “The campuses have beautiful hostel for the female and male students. The print and e-library are simply breathtaking with adequate classroom installed with modern teaching tools.”
Ezedum continued: “Our engineering laboratory and workshop parade the best equipment you can find in any world-class university.”
