By Bosco Bush
Established in 2001 as a training center, Emmanuel Christian College (ECC) has officially transitioned into Emmanuel Christian University (ECU).
The development followed approval from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology to operate as an independent private university in South Sudan.
On September 9, 2024, the Ministry granted ECU’s request to change its name, setting its new status after achieving program accreditation in 2021.
Speaking with this outlet, Vice Chancellor Prof. Daniel Ohide stated that the recent changes mark a milestone that will enable them to gradually introduce new programs including the Faculty of Agriculture Engineering.
“With the name of the University, that’s already a big ticket. There are a couple of programs that we are looking at, we want to upgrade so many by diplomas into degrees and we are thinking of extending the faculty of agriculture,” he noted.
He revealed that the institution’s board will be holding a meeting next month (October), followed by subsequent launch of the University and also graduating the first University’s batch.
The main campus is located in Goli, 20 miles (approximately 32 kilometres) away from Yei town along the Yei-Maridi road. It has accommodative facilities and a conducive learning environment with a sense of belonging that fosters motivation and engagement.
However, Prof. Ohide recounts some security and economic-related challenges hindering the complete relocation of the institution from Yei town back to the main campus in Goli, adding that they’re partially operating in the main campus with most of the activities still running in Yei town campus.
“We’ve established a very big campus outside the town, and currently it’s difficult to take our students there – yet that could have been a perfect place to really take students there not only to educate them but also give them an opportunity to farm, give them an opportunity just to live in a campus where you can give them a new culture,” explains Prof. Ohide.
Emmanuel Christian University started as a training program for pastors using the Timothy Training Institute (TTI) curriculum to empower church leaders to be effective communicators of God’s Word.
The training started in the late 1990s by George William in Ikotos town, in Eastern Equatoria State in partnership with Africa Inland Church (AIC).
In 2000, due to LRA activities in the area, the program was moved to Yei town, Central Equatoria State under the auspices of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).
However, due to the aerial bombardment of Yei Town by the then Khartoum regime, the program was relocated with the help of Archbishop Elias Taban Parangi to Goli.
It was in Goli that the program developed into an institution that became known as Emmanuel Christian Training Center (ECTC) in 2001.
ECU offers a range of key undergraduate programs. The programs include Theology, Education, Information and Communication Technology, Business Administration, and Leadership and Management.