TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE COLLEGE .......... 4 II. ACADEMIC CONTENTS ..................................................... 10 A. Philosophy and Objectives ............................................ 10 1. Philosophy 2. Objectives B. Curriculum ................................................................... 11 C. Admission Policy and Requirements ........................... 12 1. Prospectus 2. Admission Requirements and Procedure 3. Matriculation Oaths 4. Additional Rules and Regulations D. Academic Regulations .................................................. 16 1. Normal Registration 2. Late Registration 3. Exceptional Registration 4. Examination 5. Scores and Grades 6. Requirements for Advancement to the Next Level 7. Withdrawal 8. Absence from Examination 9. Examination Regulations 10. Absence from Lectures 11. Requirements for Graduation 12. Projects and Practical Works 13. Examination Moderation E. Academic Programmes, Philosophy, Objectives and Courses ...22 1. Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies (BA) a. Philosophy b. Objectives c. Courses Offered d. Course Synopses 2. Bachelor of Arts, Education in Religious Studies (BA Ed) a. Philosophy b. Objectives c. Courses Offered d. Course Synopses III. ACADEMIC STAFF ............................................................ 63 IV. ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ................................................ 64 V. LABORATORY STAFF ..................................................... 66 VI. PHYSICAL FACILITIES 67 A. Library 1. Holding 2. Currency B. Laboratories 1. Space 2. Equipments C. Classrooms 1. Space 2. Equipments 3. Education Revenue Centre D. Office Accommodation E. Environmental Sanitation VII. FUNDING OF THE PROGRAMMES ................................. 69 VIII. CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT ................................................ 70 I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE COLLEGE In an era of many Bible Colleges and Institutions, the need to learn the Biblical truth in a highly specialized Theological College cannot be over emphasized. The Baptist College of Theology, Benin City, Nigeria, has been destined to meet that need. Its vision is centered on Christian Theology with a view to equipping approved persons (2 Timothy 2:15) in the propagation of the Gospel through evangelism, missions, pastoring, educational ministries, music and other church-related ministries. It is necessary here to give a brief background history of the College. But before going into that, it is germane to digress a little to state, for good historical records, and for the benefit of the younger generation of Baptists that, a Baptist Bible School had existed here at Benin City in the late fifties. According to reliable historical sources, the need for trained pastors to man the increased number of churches, in the then Benin and Delta provinces prompted the American Baptist Mission to establish in 1956 a Bible School at Benin City. The school was under the supervision of Rev. & Mrs. O. C. Robison, the then Missionaries in charge of Benin Area. Initially, the course at the school was for two years with an academic session of six months at a stretch, that is, the school had to run for six months and recessed for another six months. It was, however, said that during that early period, the school had a peripatetic existence due mainly to the dearth of teachers. When the American Missionary in charge was on furlough, the School would move to another location where a Missionary was available. Thus, three locations were then created for the school, namely, Benin City, Eku and Warri. Among those who were students in that Bible School in Benin City were Rev. J. A. Airueghiomo, Professor Christopher O. Dime of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and Mr. M. O. Abednego, a retired Superintendent of Police. Among the teachers then were Rev. (now) Prof. Osadolor Imasogie (JP) and Late (Mrs) Y.A. Imasogie. For one reason or the other, that Bible school was soon moved from Benin City and stationed permanently in Eku, which later metamorphosed into the Baptist Bible College, Eku (now named Baptist Seminary, Eku). The present Baptist College of Theology, Benin City, was inspired by the Holy Spirit with a vision to reach the world and train men and women for the vast end-time army of the Lord Jesus Christ. It came into being as an outcome of a divinely prompted private research carried out by Mr. Noel I. I. Aihie (now Rev. Noel I. I. Aihie (JP). Impressed by the rapid spread of Baptist Churches in Edo State but depressed by the fact that sufficient number of Edo indigenes, particularly Benin people, are not being theologically trained to man these churches, Mr Aihie carried out a research as to why this is the case. Surprisingly, his research revealed that the paucity of Edo Baptist Theologically-trained pastors was not due to lack of response to the call of God by Edo people but to an uncanny reluctance on the part of majority of them to leave the state in search of theological training. The proof of this is evident in the fact that several Baptist people are enrolled in the many non- Baptist Bible Schools that dot Edo land. These young Baptists after training in such non-Baptist Schools either establish their own ministries or become pastors in the mostly Pentecostal denominations that own the schools in which they trained. He also discovered that a sizeable number of Baptists in these non-Baptist theological schools enrolled not necessarily to train as pastors but to satisfy their desire for a better and deepened understanding of the Christian Faith. Armed with these research findings, Rev. Noel I. I. Aihie (JP), who was then Edo Baptist Conference Representative on the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, brought the matter up at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Convention, held at Ede, Osun State, on March 24, 1994. The response of the Convention Executive to his presentation was recorded on page 189 of the 1995 Nigerian Baptist Book of reports for the 82nd Annual Session of the Convention held at Oyo, Oyo State, April 22-27, 1995 as follows:- 94: 2:25 general Matters- (a) Request for Baptist Bible School in Edo Conference: Mr. Noel I. I. Aihie, the Edo Conference representative requested as a matter of urgency the establishment of a Pastors' Bible School in Benin, Edo State to arrest the massive exodus of young Baptist Youth interested in evangelism to other denominations. He claimed that most of the youth were enrolling in non-Baptist Bible Schools and believed that this drain could be aborted if our Pastors' Bible School by…. was established. After the presentation, members felt concerned and directed Edo Conference to formally apply for the establishment of such institution, bearing in mind the guidelines and conditions. On May 20, 1994, the Executive Committee of Edo Baptist Conference, in which Rev. Noel I. I. Aihie held membership, set up a Bible School Committee. As recorded on page 5 of the proceedings of that meeting: “A Committee of five (5) persons was set up to look into the issue of setting up a Bible School in Edo Baptist Conference. They are Rev. Prof. O. Imasogie (JP), (Chairman), Mrs. J. I. Idehen, Deaconess V. O. Ojemudia (JP), Rev. Dr. P. O. Ebhomielen, Rev. A. O. Osaghae, Rev. P. O. Abolagba and Mr N. I. I. Aihie”. With the empanelling of this committee, the seed of Edo Baptist College of Theology which God sowed in the mind of one man started its process of gestation until it came to birth on December 9, 1996. Soon after the official approval was given for the College, the Edo Baptist Conference set up the Board of Governors made up of Deacon W. J. Anukpe (JP), a seasoned banker and Economist (now late) as the Chairman, and the following as members:- Dr Iyayi Effianayi (JP), Deaconess (Mrs) V. O. Ojemudia (nee Obaseki); Barrister Alfred iyamu, Rev. B. O. Ekhator (JP), Deacon (Prof) S. U. Akpovi, Late Deacon (Prof) John O. Afe (JP), Rev. A. O. Osaghae, Rev. Gab Ojebun, Mr. M. A. Yaya, Rev. Prof. Osadolor Imasogie (JP), (a Nigerian theological scholar, Christian religious preacher, Philosopher and educator) was named as the Rector of the College, while Rev. Noel I. I. Aihie (JP) (a seasoned Economist, public administrator and systematic theologian) was named as the Deputy Rector who was to double as the Registrar as well as secretary to the Board of Governors. Among the first lecturers of the College were Rev. Prof. Osadolor Imasogie (JP), Rev. Dr. Paul O. Ebhomielen (a well- known Baptist preacher, lecturer, missionary and one-time secretary of the Nigerian Baptist Convention's Home and Foreign Mission Board); Rev. N. I. I. Aihie (JP), Rev. Dr. T. Olu Aibinuomo, Rev. Dr. P. O. Abolagba and Pastor Osadolor Omorogbe. There had been abundant evidence of God's hand in the whole enterprise. For instance, the large number of students who had enrolled at the College authenticated the earlier research findings, especially when one realizes that several of them had been pastors of churches for upward of six years without any theological training. Secondly, the College was started in faith without any budget other than the two hundred thousand naira (N200,000.00) take-off grant made available by a well-known Baptist and Philanthropist, Dr. Iyayi Efianayi (JP), M. F. R. There had been no official vehicle owned by the College, but thanks to the magnanimity of both Rev. Prof. Imasogie and Rev. N. I. I. Aihie who volunteered their personal cars. Thus, local and long distance Travels by officials of the College had been made easy. The College has since been surviving on the generosity of some men and women in the congregations of Baptist Churches in Edo State, the Edo Baptist Conference, the Women's Missionary Union, and in particular, the Chairman and members of the first Board of Governors earlier mentioned. For other persons for which its existence is worthy of note are Elder John Omo Ikirodah (JP) (a Baptist and National Co-ordinator of the Christian Network organization), Elder Tes Sorae, (Chief Sponsor and Co-ordinator of the Annual National Christian Festival), Mr.