Professor Jacinta Opara has been appointed as second substantive Vice Chancellor of
Dominican University, Ibadan-Nigeria. In an official statement by the Chairman,
Board of Trustees of the University, Chief Anthony Idigbe(SAN), the Board, in the
exercise of its powers conferred by Federal Government of Nigeria and the
Universities Act at its meeting on Wednesday, March 7, 2024 considered the
submission of the Joint Governing Council, Senate, Search/Selection Team and
approved the appointment of Prof Opara as Vice Chancellor of the institution. The
appointment followed a stringent recruitment exercise carried out by a professional
recruiting firm and topnotch academics, in line with best global practices in headhunting for strategic
positions in higher education institutions. The statement stated that the appointment is expected to
usher in an era of innovation and academic eminence. It noted that a scholar of Prof Opara’s status
with a proven track record in higher education and a outstanding commitment to fostering learning
and research, she is balanced to make a sustainable impact on the University and the broader
academic community.
The Dominican University Ibadan(DUI) formerly known as Dominican Institute is the first university
of the Order of Preachers on the African continent. Popularly called the Dominican Order, the Order
of Preachers was founded by Spanish priest Dominic de Guzman in 1216 with the approval of Pope
Innocent III. In her more than 800 years of existence, the Order has been actively involved in
university education around the world. In 1951, with a mandate from the Holy See during the
pontificate of Pope Pius XII, three members of the Order of Preachers, Fathers Edward Lawton,
Michael Dempsey and Arthur Kinsella arrived Lagos, Nigeria from Chicago, Illinois, the United
States of America for the foundation of the Order in Nigeria. With the meeting of Vincent de
Couesnongle, then Master of the Order of Preachers at the time and African Dominican friars in
Ibadan., an umbrella body of Dominicans in Africa was established. Known as the Inter-African
Order of Preachers (IAOP), it decided to establish the Dominican Institute in Ibadan as centre of
philosophical studies for Dominicans in Africa. In 1993, the Dominican Institute became an affiliate
school of the University of Ibadan. The DUI was granted license by Federal Government of Nigeria
on November 22, 2016. That date marked the birth of the first university of the Order of Preachers on
the African continent. The university is accredited and recognized by National Universities
Commission. Illustrious Dominicans, such as the scientist and philosopher Albert the Great, and his
student, the philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, were towering intellectuals in pioneering
universities of Europe in Paris, Bologna, Oxford and Cologne.
By her appointment, Prof Opara is first female Vice Chancellor of the institution for a term of 5
years. She is the Academic and Administrative Head, the Chief Executive of the institution and
serves as the nerve centre of activities in areas of protocol, external relations and coordination of
various internal organs. She reports to the Governing Council of the university.
As the Vice Chancellor, Prof Opara brings a holistic perspective to university governance with
emphasis on the importance of fostering a dynamic learning environment and community
engagement. Her vision for Dominican University is to promote a vibrant educational community
where staff and students and other stakeholders are supported to serve God to achieve academic
excellence.
Prof Opara is deeply committed to student success, and her tenure is expected to usher in new
opportunities for partnership, research funding, international collaborations, innovations and a strong
emphasis on community outreach.
Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 1976, Prof Jacinta A. Opara, a leading African environmental
scholar, scientist, educator, health researcher, consultant and development activist with the combined
power of management and human rights is President, African Association for Teaching and Learning
and Chairman, Governing Council of the Institute of Policy Management Development. Prof Opara
is a graduate of University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She received postgraduate
degrees from University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University of Science and Technology,
University of Granada, Central University of Nicaragua, Akerhsus University (now Olso
Metropolitan University), Universidad Catolica San Antonio de Murcia(UCAM) and University of
Chalco-Mexico.
Prof Opara began her career in 1997 as Science Teacher(Biology) at College of the Immaculate
Conception(CIC), Enugu under the National Youths Service Corps and later worked as Program
Officer at Nigerian Gender Action Network and as Research Fellow at Afro-Euro Centre for
Development Studies, Accra-Ghana. Since the last 25 years, she has held teaching, research and
consulting experiences across Africa, America, Europe and Asia. She rose through the ranks and was
promoted to full Professor in 2016 at Kampala International University(KIU). She has held
appointments at a number of private and public universities. These include: Avance International
University(AIU), University of Maiduguri; Federal University, Kashere; Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe
University(KOMU); Sule Lamido University(SLU); Nasarawa State University(NSUK) and Ahmadu
Bello University(ABU), Zaria-Nigeria where she showcased excellence in her dedication to teaching,
research and strong passion for educational development
