THE FOUNDING OF CALEB UNIVERSITY, LAGOS
The Birth of Caleb University | The Background Story | The Prime Movers | The Academic Planning Committee | The Planning and Implementation Committee | Caleb International College as Proprietor of Caleb University

The Birth of Caleb University
The systematic history of the proposed CALEB UNIVERSITY dates back to 1986 when Prince Oladega Adebogun planted the initial seed for a nursery and primary school in the heart of Mainland Lagos. The seemingly intractable falling standard in public sector education and the demand amongst most parents for schools with high academic standards, as well as the inculcation of true Christian values served as the necessary impetus for the creation of Caleb Nursery and Primary School.

The high academic attainment within the school, coupled with the exemplary moral behaviour of the students increased demand for places in the school. Parents also began to yearn for a secondary institution that emphasizes the same objectives, ambitions, values and teaching methods. This, logically, paved the way for the establishment of Caleb International College in Magodo GRA, Lagos, in 1995.

The college served as a natural transition path for many pupils who have attended Caleb Primary School. Within a few years of establishment, the performances of the college students at the Junior and Senior Secondary School Certificate examinations (JSCE/SSCE) quickly established Caleb amongst the ranks of high flying secondary schools in the Country. The college expanded its extra-curricular programme, expanded its music band, and included overseas study tours for its students from 1999.

In 1999, application for places at the College reached unprecedented level, with full applications to every available place. Such positive interest agitated the need for a bigger location. Caleb International College continued the rich tradition of moral and academic excellence and sometime in 2003, a branch of the College was established in Lekki to cater for parents residing in the Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki axis of Lagos.
To maintain its position as a prime provider of qualitative education and respond to the industrial demands for staff of true international calibre, the establishment initiated the necessary process for the introduction of a Cambridge O level programme and International General Certificate of Education (IGCSE) in 2004. Caleb’s position as an international organization was truly recognized in 2004 when it was admitted as a full member of the International School’s Association (ISA).

Prince Adebogun also felt deeply inspired to establish a university that will do for tertiary education, what Caleb has creditably done for primary and secondary education and in response to the invitation of the Federal Government of Nigeria through Act no. 9 of 1993 to allow Private Corporate bodies or individual Nigerian Citizens to establish and run Universities, subject to meeting approved guidelines such as having an approved Academic Brief, Master plan, University Law and proven ability to finance such a project.

The Prime Movers
Thus, in 2000, the founder set in motion the process of setting up a Private University.
There was a gathering of like minds who met on ad-hoc basis to plan for the establishment of Caleb University. The distinguished personalities are:

By year 2003, the membership of the Group increased to 9, as follows:

One of the results of the meeting of this Group was the purchase of the Application form for the establishment of a Private University from the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2003.  In the same year, the group agreed on a suitable location for the University in Imota in Imota L.G.A. of Lagos State. Another landmark decision of the group was the commissioning of a Consultant to produce the first draft of the academic brief for the proposed University.

The Adademic Planning Committee
The first draft of the Academic Brief was submitted in May 2003; and, in 2004, following comments and observations made by the NUC, a high powered Curriculum Planning Committee which included about 20 Professors and which was headed by Prof. Nurudeen Adedipe was set up. The other members of the Curriculum Planning Committee were Prof. Fola Lasisi, Prof. S A Balogun, Prof. O Osibanjo, Prof. A T Hasssan, Prof. T I Raji, Prof. O B Oyewole, Prof. O Akinlade, Prof. A Bamiduro, Prof. Kunle Wahab , Prof. M C K Sridhar, Prof. F Egeberongbe, Prof. G.M. Babatunde, Prof. S B Agbola, Prof. T.O. Tayo, Prof. J. Adeneye, Prof. G O Jagboro, Prof. O Olusanya, Prof. Seni Akintola-Bello, Dr I G Nubi, Dr O S Oyediran, Dr R Olopoenia, Dr O. Shopeju, Dr A O Togun, Dr S O Otubusin, Dr F A Balogun, Dr J A Oguntuase, Dr (Mrs) A Salami, Dr (Mrs) A B Olaniyan, Dr R O Awodoyin and Mrs E.S. Olarinde. The Curriculum Planning Committee conducted a residential summit at the Centre for Management Development (CMD) Shangisha, Ikeja, Lagos, January 3 – 8, 2005.

Meanwhile, the Group after extensive consultations, agreed to use the newly completed ultra-modern Caleb International College building located in Ikosi-Ketu, Ikeja as the take-off site of the University.

The Planning and Implementation Committee
A University Planning and Implementation Committee was then set up following the extensive work of the Curriculum Planning Committee. The membership of the University Planning and Implementation Committee include Prof O Osibanjo (Chairman), Prince O A Adebogun, Dr J S T Bogunjoko, Prof Kunle Wahab, Prof Fola Lasisi, Prof O S Akintola-Bello, Prof Olusola B Oyewole, Prof. S.B. Agbola, Prof T O Tayo, Dr (Mrs) A B Olaniyan, Mrs M F Egunleti, Mrs M O Oresanya, Dr E C Mattews-Njoku, Dr A O B Oyefolu, Mr. Olusoga Badejo, Prince Bola Taiwo, Mr. Kayode Adekunle, Mrs. S. Olarinde and Mr Abimbola A. Odulesi (Secretary).

Caleb International College as Proprietor of Caleb University
Caleb International College (CIC) is a legal body established as a limited Company (limited by shares) through the Companies Act. Its registered office is located at 5, Adekunle Banjo Avenue, Magodo, Lagos.
Caleb International College enjoys an enviable financial position in the secondary education sector, with an annual turnover in excess of N500 million and assets of over N2 billion. This includes a state of the art, ultra modern schools complex with 47 classrooms, 4 dedicated and fully equipped laboratories and an administrative block. Her assets also include several vehicles, hostels, numerous undeveloped lands and machinery.
It was decided to name the University CALEB UNIVERSITY, since CALEB has become a brand name in the education sector recognized for all round excellence.

Objectives
The objectives of the University are:

STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING STATED OBJECTIVES
The University has acquired a 107-hectares piece of-land in Imota, Ikorodu Division, 30km from Lagos, on the Ikorodu-Imota Highway, which is adequate for its physical development as stipulated by the N UC. This land will also be developed in line with the specifications for space allocation in the University Master Plan.
Academic programmes will be mounted on full-time and part-time/weekend bases in the areas of Social and Management Sciences and in Environmental Sciences and Management that would look into problems facing industries and commercial ventures with a view to training regular and mature students that would respond to real needs. Programmes will be mounted in other areas such as Pure and Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology. Research efforts will also be geared towards relevant problems.
The University will also research into environmental protection and waste management so as to enhance the ecosystem-health of Nigerians. The Department of Food Engineering and Technology will be encouraged to carry out research that would enhance the production, processing, storage, packaging and marketing of food and food products.
 
To enhance their communication skills, relationship with neighbouring countries, and international job marketability, all students would be encouraged to become proficient in written and oral French before graduation. 
The University shall develop a dynamic and compassionate human resources development and welfare package for all categories of staff. To enhance the quality of teaching and industrial peace, the University will ensure that adequate financial provision is made for goods and services to purchase books and journals, equipment and other material needs. In addition, the University will pay competitive salaries to its entire staff and pay attention to their welfare through establishment of recreational facilities, health services, crèche, primary and secondary schools. Adequate structures will be provided, including classrooms, lecture theatres, laboratories (including language laboratories), and workshops. The University will also take appropriate action to ensure that only well-qualified students are admitted into the University. To this end, the University will interview and screen prospective students in addition to having acceptable scores in their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examinations, and or other examinations as may be prescribed nationally.
There shall be a Quality Assurance Unit in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. Annually, the University will evaluate its performance against its stated objectives through the use of appropriate performance indicators specified in Chapter Ten of its Academic Brief.

PROSPECTS FOR ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT
According to the guidelines stipulated by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University has acquired 107 hectares of land at Imota (Latitude 50 North, Longitude 40 East) in the Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, 30 kilometres north-east of Lagos; as the Permanent Site which will be developed in phases.  Master-planners have been appointed that would translate the Academic Brief into physical layout. Adequate funds will be made available for the development of each phase of the permanent site.
Meanwhile, adequate provisions have been made for the “Take-off Campus” at Ikosi- Ketu, in the Ikeja Division of Lagos State, at the old Toll Gate location on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, close to the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa.
Given that Caleb University is a private university, due attention is being given to sustainable internal revenue generation.  To this end, the University will create a commercial base of unique agricultural and related food production enterprises with emphasis on Dairy and Aquaculture given the high demands of such products in the Lagos area.
In the development and operations of academic programmes and the curriculum, Caleb University will ensure that staff that are engaged are of the highest quality. This will be made possible by instituting highly competitive salary and emoluments structure with training and re-training of staff while promoting research that will lead to directional contribution to scholarship.
The laboratories and library shall be well equipped both for training and research, and possibly for consultancy services, right from the onset. Moreover, a phased expansion program to meet the demands of increasing student enrolment will be put in place. In addition, the library shall be well-stocked with emphasis on computerization and the development of a visual library concept.