Effort to reposition Samuel Bill theological college underway ...As Trenchard Ibia inaugurates Aniekan Umanah, ors into governing council

The avowed commitment of the Chairman of Conference of Qua Iboe Church of Nigeria, Rev. Ekpedeme Efanga at repositioning every establishment of the over 100 years Christian organization has continued to receive the support of various stakeholders of the church, who are upbeat in their pursuit of the vision and policies of the current leadership.

The Chairman Governing Council of the Samuel Bill Theological College, Abak, Elder (Prof) Trenchard Ibia gave the assurance at the Senate Chambers of the college while officially inaugurating members of the institution’s governing council.

Prof. Ibia advised members of the council to be selfless, as the task required of them was enormous, reminding them that they were chosen on consideration of capacity, experience, exposure and willingness to serve, hence the need to deliver on the expectations of the church.

Ibia listed infrastructural upgrade, improved funding, gainful affiliations and full accreditation of courses as what the council must achieve in the shortest possible time, announcing that the conference leadership was in support of the complete overhauling of the college, while promising never to interfere with the administrative duties of the college.

In his address, the Provost of the college Rev. Iniobong Udoh expressed confidence in those selected into the governing council of the institution, saying their records of proven integrity agrees with the manage-ment’s drive to promote sound moral and academic excellence in the college.

Giving a brief history, Rev. Udoh noted that the institution, which was established in January 1941, by the joint impetus of the Qua Iboe Church and Qua Iboe Mission Home Council in Belfast, with a mission of training men for God’s work, had its name changed from Qua Iboe Church Bible College to Samuel Bill Theological College in 1981.

He listed full accreditation, staff development, resuscitation of the secondary section, infrastructural upgrade and boost in students’ population as the institution’s immediate challenges and restated the hope that the new council will look at various ways of helping the institution overcome the myriad of challenges plaguing it.

Addressing newsmen after the inauguration, a member of the governing council and President African Media Network (AMNET) Elder Aniekan Umanah announced that the vision of creating a university out of the college was possible, promising the council would do its best to re-write the history of the 76-year old institution.

Elder Umanah, who is the immediate past Commissioner for information and communications in the State also assured of effort by the council to introduce more relevant academic programmes to courses offered by the college, while promising to justify the confidence reposed in them by the church leadership, through timely result and focus.

The new governing council has Elder (Prof.) Trenchard Ibia as Chairman, while Elder Aniekan Umanah, Elder (Dr.) Ezekiel Okon Akpan, Elder Isaac Ekong, Elder Joseph Obot, Elder (Barr) Imo William as well as Elder Anietie Ukpe are members.

Others include the College Registrar Rev. Edidiong Inyang; conference representative Elder G. Obo, and a representative from the University of Uyo.