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Solicits staff, management, other support
The Vice-Chancellor of Veritas University, Abuja, Rev. Fr. Prof. Hyacinth Ementa Ichoku, has set a target of making the institution one of the leading Catholic universities in the world by 2030, urging staff to work collectively towards achieving the ambitious goal.
Ichoku spoke during the opening ceremony of the university’s three-day 2026 staff retreat, which he described as a period of reflection, renewal, strategic thinking and recommitment to the vision and mission of the institution.
He said building a world-class university was not the responsibility of management alone, stressing that every member of staff had a role to play in determining the future of Veritas University.
He explained that the university was founded with a vision of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s development by producing graduates who are academically competent, morally grounded, professionally capable and committed to the common good.
He therefore urged staff to abandon working in silos and strengthen collaboration across faculties, departments and administrative units.
“We are one Veritas University. As a result, lecturers, researchers, librarians, administrators, accountants, ICT officers, technicians, security personnel, cleaners and other workers are expected to make significant contribution, individually and collectively, to the realisation of the university’s vision,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also announced a major investment in technology as part of efforts to prepare the institution for the future of education, which is being significantly altered by advancements in technology and, more recently, artificial intelligence (AI).
He disclosed that the university was importing 350 computers and had acquired 60 smartboards, with plans to increase the number to between 70 and 80 by October.
He also said classrooms across the university would be fitted with smartboards, making it necessary for lecturers and other staff to acquire the skills required to use the technology effectively.
The Vice-Chancellor further announced plans to train all members of staff in artificial intelligence, data management and other technologies relevant to teaching and learning.
He said information and communication technology was no longer an optional addition to university education but was fundamental to teaching, learning, research and administration.
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The Vice-Chancellor said management recognised that staff could not be expected to perform at world-class standards without being provided with the appropriate tools and working environment.
He urged staff to embrace technology, noting that Veritas was teaching a new generation of students whose learning needs and expectations required new approaches.
He also challenged participants to devote themselves fully to the three-day retreat, arguing that while other official engagements could wait, collective reflection and the task of charting the university’s future could not.
Speaking as facilitator of the retreat, Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), urged the university to remain firmly rooted in its Catholic identity while responding to changes in society and technology.
Okebukola said the Catholic identity of Veritas remained its major distinguishing factor and should be leveraged in the institution’s quest for global recognition.
He also urged the university community not to fear artificial intelligence but to approach it with discernment grounded in faith.
According to him, visibility was critical to institutional sustainability, and Veritas must work towards becoming one of the highest-ranked Catholic universities globally.
Reflecting on the university’s 2030 strategic plan, Okebukola challenged staff to ask where Veritas was in 2026, where it wanted to be in 2030 and what each individual could do to help achieve the target.
“The future of Veritas University would ultimately be determined by the decisions, attitudes and actions of its people. To this end, staff would be expected to commit themselves to excellence, integrity, professionalism, teamwork, innovation and service,” he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that participants would leave the retreat with a renewed sense of purpose, stronger bonds as colleagues and a clearer understanding of the direction of Veritas University.
