About Us
The Christian Religious Studies program is an old field of study globally that provide students with adequate and sound religious knowledge in its broadest form in order to transform them toward building the society to be a better place. The programmes and activities of the Department of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Federal University of Lafia is aimed at training and developing students with sound adequate religious knowledge in its broadest form to contribute to nation building, foster national integration, employable and self-sustaining to contribute in education, governance and private enterprise. These expectations will be jealously supported with in-depth research, lecturing and mentoring out students towards community development in different areas of specialization in Christian Religious Studies.
The Department of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) was not among the Departments that the University started with, in 2011 when the University was established by the then former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. But later, on 23rd October, 2017, the Department of Christian Religious Studies (CRS), alongside three (3) other Departments were officially introduced in the Faculty of Arts. These Departments surfaced fully in 2019. Plan for the take-off of the CRS Department began when Prof. J.D. Gwamna came on sabbatical to prepare grounds for the programme. Unfortunately, he fell ill and eventually died. The commencement of the programme is to his tribute.
The Department of Christian Religious Studies started with six lecturers namely: Mr. Akolo Ajige, Mr. Luka G. Michael, Dr. Isaac Jesuvi Julius, Mr. Theophilus Angbashim, Dr. Loveday Chigozie Onyezonwu and Rev. Fr. Dr. Ngbea Gabriel. Rev. Fr. Dr. Ngbea Gabriel was saddled with the responsibility of the Ag. Head of the Department from 5th November, 2019 to 20th April, 2021. Dr. Loveday Chigozie Onyezonwu took over as the Ag. Head of the Department on 20th April, 2021.
The Department of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) was not among the Departments that the University started with, in 2011 when the University was established by the then former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. But later, on 23rd October, 2017, the Department of Christian Religious Studies (CRS), alongside three (3) other Departments were officially introduced in the Faculty of Arts. These Departments surfaced fully in 2019. Plan for the take-off of the CRS Department began when Prof. J.D. Gwamna came on sabbatical to prepare grounds for the programme. Unfortunately, he fell ill and eventually died. The commencement of the programme is to his tribute.
The Department of Christian Religious Studies started with six lecturers namely: Mr. Akolo Ajige, Mr. Luka G. Michael, Dr. Isaac Jesuvi Julius, Mr. Theophilus Angbashim, Dr. Loveday Chigozie Onyezonwu and Rev. Fr. Dr. Ngbea Gabriel. Rev. Fr. Dr. Ngbea Gabriel was saddled with the responsibility of the Ag. Head of the Department from 5th November, 2019 to 20th April, 2021. Dr. Loveday Chigozie Onyezonwu took over as the Ag. Head of the Department on 20th April, 2021.
Our goals
The general goal of Christian Religious Studies programme is to provide students with adequate and sound religious knowledge in its broadest form in order to transform them towards nation building. Specifically, the objectives of the programme are designed to among others:
i. Produce students who will be able to competently interpret Christianity or Bible within conceptual realities in Nigeria that are contemporary and relevant in order to foster national integration and development.
ii. Produce very sound and competent students who will excel in their Christian Religious Studies of academic endeavour and compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.
iii. Inculcate the value of respect from human dignity and hard work as it fosters religious co-existence, mutual respect and integrity.
iv. Catalyze a re-armament in the national moral rebirth towards national development.
v. To produce students who will be employable to be able to contribute to National building in all spheres of life be it in education, governance, private enterprise and in religion.
i. Produce students who will be able to competently interpret Christianity or Bible within conceptual realities in Nigeria that are contemporary and relevant in order to foster national integration and development.
ii. Produce very sound and competent students who will excel in their Christian Religious Studies of academic endeavour and compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the world.
iii. Inculcate the value of respect from human dignity and hard work as it fosters religious co-existence, mutual respect and integrity.
iv. Catalyze a re-armament in the national moral rebirth towards national development.
v. To produce students who will be employable to be able to contribute to National building in all spheres of life be it in education, governance, private enterprise and in religion.
Programmes
Bachelor of Arts Christian Religious Studies
Staff of the department
Dr. Loveday Chigozie ONYEZONWU Tenure Ag. HoD/ Senior Lecturer B.A (Babcock) (2005), M.A (Ibadan) (2008), Ph.D. (Ibadan) (2014) Religious (Christian) Ethics
Dr. Gabriel Ngbea Tenure
Associate Professor Ph.D. (2017), M.A (2011), M.SC. (2011) PGDE (2008), B.Th. (1998) Religion and Society
Dr. Isaac Jesuvi Julius Tenure
Senior Lecturer Ph.D. (2014), M.A (1998), B.A. (1994), PGDE (2007), B.Th. (2002) Church History
Dr. Theophilus John Angbashim Tenure Senior
Lecturer B. A (2006), M.A. (2011), Ph.D. (2023). Interaction of Religions
Dr. Akolo Ajige Tenure Lecturer II B.A(2009), M.A (2013),
Ph.D. (2023) Comparative Religious Studies Luka Goddy Michael Tenure Assistant Lecturer B.A (2009), M.A (2011), Systematic Theology
Mr. Anthony Habila Ogah Tenure Assistant Lecturer B.A (2005), PGDE (2011), M.A (2007), M.A (2010) Church History
Dr. Gabriel Ngbea Tenure
Associate Professor Ph.D. (2017), M.A (2011), M.SC. (2011) PGDE (2008), B.Th. (1998) Religion and Society
Dr. Isaac Jesuvi Julius Tenure
Senior Lecturer Ph.D. (2014), M.A (1998), B.A. (1994), PGDE (2007), B.Th. (2002) Church History
Dr. Theophilus John Angbashim Tenure Senior
Lecturer B. A (2006), M.A. (2011), Ph.D. (2023). Interaction of Religions
Dr. Akolo Ajige Tenure Lecturer II B.A(2009), M.A (2013),
Ph.D. (2023) Comparative Religious Studies Luka Goddy Michael Tenure Assistant Lecturer B.A (2009), M.A (2011), Systematic Theology
Mr. Anthony Habila Ogah Tenure Assistant Lecturer B.A (2005), PGDE (2011), M.A (2007), M.A (2010) Church History
HOD's profile
Loveday Chigozie ONYEZONWU holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology (2nd Class Upper Division), (2005) from Babcock University; Master of Arts in Religious Studies (2008) and Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies (2014) from the University of Ibadan. His teaching and research interests include: Environmental Ethics and Sustainability; Christian Ethics and Theology; African Ethics and Culture; Religion and Society; Family Values; Religion and Peacebuilding. He is a Senior Lecturer. He has lectured at Akwa Ibom State University and Federal University of Kashere Gombe State before coming to FULafia. He has been the Acting Head of Department of Christian Religious Studies, Federal University of Lafia from April, 2021-date.
News Update
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Conference & Workshop
We have hosted a national conference of Nigeria University Scholars in Religions in conjunction with the Departmental of Islamic Studies. The conference was held between 1st and 4th August, 2023.
The Department has instituted Guest Personality Lecture Series.
The Department has instituted Guest Personality Lecture Series.
Admission Requirements
For admission to 100 Level, applicants or candidates are required to:
i. Possess acceptable score in Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in relevant subjects.
ii. Applicants or candidates must possess five (5) credit passes at SSCE, GCE O’level, NECO including English Language and Mathematics at not more than two sittings.
(B) For Direct Entry (200 Level), applicants or candidates must possess:
i.NCE, ND, JUPEB or IJMB with at least credits and acceptable passes in Christian Religious Knowledge and any two Arts subjects.
ii. Five (5) credit passes at SSCE, GCE O’Level, NECO including English Language and Mathematics at not more than two sittings.
iii. Diploma of recognised Theological Institution in Christian Religious Knowledge or Theology or Diploma in Religious Studies from recognized institution.
i. Possess acceptable score in Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in relevant subjects.
ii. Applicants or candidates must possess five (5) credit passes at SSCE, GCE O’level, NECO including English Language and Mathematics at not more than two sittings.
(B) For Direct Entry (200 Level), applicants or candidates must possess:
i.NCE, ND, JUPEB or IJMB with at least credits and acceptable passes in Christian Religious Knowledge and any two Arts subjects.
ii. Five (5) credit passes at SSCE, GCE O’Level, NECO including English Language and Mathematics at not more than two sittings.
iii. Diploma of recognised Theological Institution in Christian Religious Knowledge or Theology or Diploma in Religious Studies from recognized institution.
Welcome Address
On behalf of the entire staff of the Department, I welcome you to the University and the Department, a true community of objective and critical thinkers/scholars.
The Department is committed to serious academic work, value-driven education, character development and building a community of ethnically and culturally diverse but humane people. I welcome you to the Department where we affirm God as the source of all pure and true wisdom, knowledge and truth; where we seek knowledge not just for the sake of knowledge or to be known but for the sake of charity (that is to serve and edify others). Here we affirm the love for God, our fellow human beings and love for study; the relationship between faith and reason; a healthy balance between spirituality and scholarship. Though these issues are in tension, they are not in contradiction. The Department is not a pulpit to indoctrinate or convert you but to help you answer the question: ‘who’ as against ‘what’ is man that we should educate him. This means to acknowledge and uphold that man is central to true education and that he bears the image of God.
Our students are very dear and precious to us and we are deeply committed to helping them build the needed competencies that will enable each one of them fulfill their cherished dreams and life goals. To our current and prospective students, we wish you a very pleasant, fruitful and mind transforming experience as you strive for academic development, self-realization and self-actualization. We will help to nurture and groom you to be the best on the path you have chosen. We are at your service. We are here for you. Shalom!