The EYN – Church of the Brethren in Nigeria has officially taken a historic step toward the establishment of the Brethren University in Nigeria, following the groundbreaking and foundation-laying ceremony for the university gate.
The ceremony was led by the President of EYN, Rev. Daniel Y. C. Mbaya, PhD, alongside the Vice President, Rev. Nuhu Mutah Abba, and the General Secretary, Rev. James K. Musa, with the presence of numerous District Church Council (DCC) Secretaries, National Executive Committee (NEC) members, and other church leaders.
Addressing the gathering, the EYN President urged all members and pastors of the church to key into the vision of establishing the Brethren University, describing it as a long-awaited dream whose time has finally come. He noted that as the church marks 103 years of existence, EYN has already demonstrated strong commitment to education, with over 700 nursery and primary schools across the country.
Rev. Mbaya emphasized that the university project is firmly rooted in the core values of EYN, inherited from the founding fathers of the church. These values, he said, include education, healthcare delivery, agricultural development, and the improvement of community livelihoods—all of which remain central to the church’s mission and responsibility to society.
He further revealed that the vision has attracted wide interest beyond the EYN membership, including support from individuals who are neither members of the church nor Christians. In a striking example of interfaith goodwill, the President disclosed that a Muslim politician donated two solar-powered boreholes, valued at over ₦100 million, to support the project.
According to him, the 246.9-hectare parcel of land designated for the university was acquired at a cost of ₦300 million, fully funded through the central finance of the church, without placing any financial burden on Local Church Councils (LCCs) or District Church Councils (DCCs). He added that the land size exceeds the National Universities Commission (NUC) minimum requirement of 100 hectares, positioning the institution for future expansion.
The EYN President concluded by reaffirming that the establishment of the Brethren University is not only timely but also a faithful continuation of the church’s historic commitment to holistic ministry—serving both the church and the wider Nigerian society.
The churches in Nigeria are known for building schools that their poor members can’t afford and the number of scholarship is very low, I hope this one makes a difference.
God bless you all.
Our Secondary School has 80% of EYN sons and daughters who graduated from there, which means the members were able to send their wards there because the fees is affordable. Already we stand to be different.
Great job EYN forward ever