Catholic Institute of West Africa

The Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) is a tertiary educational institution in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. It is a higher ecclesiastical institute of the Catholic Church and remains the leading theological facility in West Africa.^[1]

Established in 1981, the institute opened its doors with 8 students, 8 academic and administrative staff with Monsignor Stephen Ezeanya as its first rector. Ezeanya was later appointed as Archbishop of Onitsha. In 1982, the institute relocated to its present site at 2nd Artillery, Rumuibekwe. Its current proprietor is the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA).

According to the institution's website, the Catholic Institute of West Africa has "assisted thousands of students in discovering and nurturing their call to Christian service, gaining a deeper understanding of Christianity and religion, and its role in a changing world." In September 2014, CIWA regained possession of its campus at Obehie in Abia State. The campus had been temporarily used by Veritas University prior to its permanent relocation that year.^[2]

At the administrative level, the institute consists of the following members:

• Rector: Very Rev. Prof. Jude Abidemi Asanbe
• Registrar: Rev. Fr. Dr. Wilson U. Akhigbe
• Bursar: Mr. Ambrose Agugua
• Librarians: Grace O. Nnodim

Several academic departments offer a range of courses at different levels from certificate to Licenciate and PhD. These departments include:

• Biblical Studies
• Systematic Theology
• Center for Studies of African Culture and Communications (CESACC)
• Sacred Liturgy
• Canon Law
• Pastoral/Spirituality
• Moral Theology

The institute has well-equipped libraries at both Port Harcourt and Obehie campuses. The CIWA Main Library in Port Harcourt is managed by a committee, two professional librarians and three assistants. There's internet access to aid research as well as other studies. Contents of the library are updated regularly to keep up with theological trends and developments.^[3]

• Nkem Hyginus M. V. Chigere. Foreign Missionary Background and Indigenous Evangelization in Igboland. LIT Verlag Münster, 2001. ISBN 3825849643
• This is the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria: Insights and Projects. CIWA, 1989
• Christian Ndubueze Anyanwu. Creative Strategies for Conflict Management & Community Building. AuthorHouse, 2009. ISBN 1449030610

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Catholic Institute of West Africa.

• Official website – CIWA homepage
• Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa – GCatholic.org