“As a faith based University, we are guided by godly values in our operations. The NUC as a regulatory body is represented on our Governing Council. There is nothing that is done in the dark at KKU. We follow NUC standards strictly to ensure that we produce graduates that are globally competitive and are capable of thinking out solutions to societal challenges”
A faith-based institution, Karl Kumm University, Vom, named after the German missionary Karl Kumm owned by the Church of Christ In Nations, COCIN which fits in strategically at the heart of Nigeria’s educational trajectory, embodies an innovatory example of illumination that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills as it seeks to drive national socio-economic development, through ushering in a new epoch of academic excellence and practical learning.
Prof Audu Nanven Gambo, Vice Chancellor of the university that is deeply rooted in Christian philosophy said the institution delivers theoretical knowledge with rigour and depth, enabling students to explore various academic dialects. However, the university’s bold vision transcends the conventional chains of theoretical knowledge which is inadequate unless it’s juxtaposed with practical hands-on skills
Prof Gambo disclosed this on Sunday, 5th May, 2024 when he appeared as the 17th Guest on the highly respected POINTBLANK INTERACTIVE SESSION. According to the University don “KKU is a faith based private University established by the Church in Nations to complement the effort of government in the provision of quality education and to deepen and widen access to tertiary education carefully designed to drive the enterprise of national development”
Projecting Karl Kumm University, Vom as a frontier in Nigeria’s educational jigsaw through dynamic blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills which harbours huge potential to propel national development, a paradigm that holds the key to unlock a future where every Nigerian student is not just a vessel of theoretical knowledge, but a possessor of potent practical skills, ready to navigate and shape the evolving national landscape, Prof Gambo, a directing staff at the nation’s famous National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS between 2020 and 2021 said “The strategic role of KKU in this regard is to combine theoretical knowledge with skill oriented learning to drive the process of national development. Emphasis is also on Christian values targeted at producing graduates that are patriotic, disciplined and God fearing in the practice of their various trades”
Bringing to limelight the vision statement of the university, the erudite scholar said “The vision of Karl Kumm University is to be a citadel of academic excellence where young men and women are produced with good skills in diverse fields of learning to serve humanity with high sense of integrity. The mission of the University is the training training of graduate with competitive skills in various trades and who are knowledgeable about the workings of nature”
Unequivocally stressing the university’s uniqueness and departure from the public held notion that private universities do not keep to requisite academic standards, thereby produce shams of graduates into the labour market, the scholar of international repute said “It’s true that some private universities and even some public universities do cut corners by not giving students value for their money. As a faith based University, we are guided by godly values in our operations. The NUC as a regulatory body is represented on our Governing Council. There is nothing that is done in the dark at KKU. We follow NUC standards strictly to ensure that we produce graduates that are globally competitive and are capable of thinking out solutions to societal challenges”
Poised to place the university on higher standards above others, Prof Gambo revealed that “we are faithfully implementing a range of initiatives targeted at making the University globally competitive. We are receiving proposals for MOU with some established foreign Universities and even some national Universities. We have brought on board highly qualified and experienced young men and women who are helping drive the vision and mission of the University. A University in the USA has offered one of a staff scholarship to study for a PhD. He was offered assistant lecturership in the same University. We are exploring more opportunities to get our staff to pursue their PhD programmes.”
As a faith based university, its influence transcends beyond academic empowerment, resonating with the entrenchment of high moral standard as noted by the Vice Chancellor who underscored it stating that “the Management of KKU attaches the highest premium on moral standards to justify our status as a faith based University. In this regard, we have started Chapel fellowship on Sundays and Mondays and are mandatory for all students on campus. We have also issued all students copies of Student Code of Conduct in addition to some other measures to strengthen moral values and inculcate same in our students”.
The entrenchment of high moral standard is a direct relationship between the university’s mission and the church’s longstanding tradition which Prof Gambo summed it that “The vision of Karl Kumm University is to be a citadel of academic excellence where young men and women are produced with good skills in diverse fields of learning to serve humanity with high sense of integrity. The mission of the University is the training training of graduate with competitive skills in various trades and who are knowledgeable about the workings of nature”
Announcing the university’s strategic plans to expand the university to be accessible to all, the Pioneer Vice Chancellor said “Yes, we now have Gindiri campus which is going to house three faculties in the future (Arts, Management Scienxes and Social Sciences). More considerations for other places with time and as development will dictate”.
The Vice Chancellor of the university whose admissions are opened to all irrespective of their religious belief added that “The Medical College is one of the last Faculties to be brought upstream and this is deliberately so in order to Foster strong foundational basic medical courses.” This will be preceded by the commencement of Seven Departments in 2026 namely; BA English, BSC Mass Communication, BSC Broadcasting, BSC Sociology, BSC Biotechnology, BSC Software Engineering and BSC Information Systems.
