Since then, it has produced thousand of pastors, evangelists, teachers/lecturers and other forms of civil servants. Although owned by an evangelical denomination, it admits, indeed its products are from other denominations – orthodox, evangelicals, Pentecostals, etc. The academicians of UMCATC are women and men of integrity and professionals in their areas of specializations. They are concerned with deepening Christianity in Africa, and hence they nurture our students with the aim of integrating their hearts and minds in sound Christianity. Our environment is also serene and conducive for spiritual development. The library consists of thousands of resources in both hard and soft copies. We are accredited by the National Universities Commission (Nigeria’s University accreditation agency) as an affiliate of the University of Ibadan and the University of Ilorin, both in Nigeria. The College also has an affiliate status with Association of Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA). Hence, if you are looking for an academically sound theological education with the passionate concern to extend the Kingdom of God and deepen sound Christianity in Africa, UMCATC is the place for your preparation. HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE
The UMCA Theological College was established in the year 1956, by Missionaries from the United Missionary Church of Canada. It was intended to provide higher theological education above the three existing vernacular Bible schools then. It was intended to be a place of training where prospective Pastors, Teachers and Missionaries from any part of the World could attend. The initial support for the College came fully from the Missionary Church of Canada. The first three and fifth principals of the College were Canadians. The fourth, and sixth to eight principals, later called Provosts till date, were Nigerians. The College was initially called United Missionary Theological College (UMTC). After the Missionaries handed over full administration to Nigerians, the name became United Missionary Church of Africa Theological College (UMCATC). With the hand over, financing became largely the responsibility of the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) with some financial assistance from Canada and the United States. Missionaries come from time to time from Canada to augment the staff strength. The financial needs of the College today are met by students’ fees to the tune of up to 90%. The College has graduated about 5,000 students since its founding, with at least 70% of them engaged in pastoral work and cross-cultural Missions in Nigeria and abroad. Others teach Christian Religious Studies in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. MISSION
The mission of the College includes:
To lead each student to a fuller experience of Christ as Saviour and Lord, and to the development of a truly Christian character. To guide each student into a more thorough knowledge of the Word of God and to equip him or her with critical methods for its application. To give students a love for, and a dedication to the church and to show them their place in its worldwide commission. To train effective Christian Religious Studies teachers/lecturers for primary, secondary and tertiary schools. To train pastors and evangelists to serve effectively in their pastoral and prophetic ministers. To make students aware of the relationship between the church and society. ACCREDITATION
The College is affiliated to the University of Ibadan, Nigeria for Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Religious Studies. We also have a correspondence status with the Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA) and we have applied for accredited status, which is yet to be granted. AFFILIATION
The College is set up and is owned by the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) in Nigeria, which associates with World Partners (an association of Missionary Churches in U.S.A., Canada and Africa). TENETS/CORE VALUES & STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Triune God
The Bible
Human Being
Jesus Christ and The Work of Salvation
The Holy Spirit
The Church
The Last Things
We believe that the one and only God is Spirit, self-existent, infinite, personal, immutable and eternal in His Being. We believe in His perfect holiness, love, justice, goodness, wisdom and truth, omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence. We believe that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, and that He is eternally existent in three persons, one in substance and co-equal in power and glory – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Psalm 139:7-10; Malachi 3:16; John 4:24; II Corinthians 13:14). VISION
The vision of UMCA Theological College, Ilorin, Nigeria is to be a Christian centre of higher education whose products fully share the mission of Jesus Christ – the extension of the ‘Kingdom of God’, and hence, whose personal interest is the common good, whose hearts and minds are integrated in the pursuit of this mission and to whom the theoretical is not divorced from the practical.
