The Missionary Society of St Paul Theological Institute, Gwagwalada, Abuja
The Missionary Society of St Paul of Nigeria Theological Institute is a higher ecclesiastical institute of the Missionary Society of St Paul of Nigeria (MSP), located in Abuja, Nigeria. It used to be the Theology Department of the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul, Gwagwalada, Abuja, until its erection as an institute by the Faculty of Theology, Pontifical Urban University, Rome, to whom it has been affiliated since April 1995, without ever losing its accreditation.
A serene view of the Missionary Society of St Paul Theological Institute, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Its current proprietor is the Superior General of the Missionary Society of St Paul of Nigeria, Rev. Fr Dr Clement Kanu, MSP. At its inception, the institute had sixty-six (66) students and twenty-five (25) academic staff, including three (3) female religious permanent lecturers, with Rev. Fr Dr Nduka Uzor, MSP, as its pioneer Director.
Most of her students reside on the same campus as the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul in Gwagwalada, Abuja, while some commute from nearby villages. For now, all the students of the institute are male. Upon graduation, students are awarded the Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology (STB) degree, and most go on to become priests.
“Pro Christo Legatione ergo Fungimur — We are Ambassadors for Christ.” This motto captures the Institute’s mission to raise integrally formed persons who are grounded humanly, academically, spiritually, and pastorally.
The Institute’s formation is built on a carefully fashioned curriculum that embraces the diverse cultures of its students’ origins, promoting unity in diversity. Alongside academic work, extracurricular engagements such as workshops on safeguarding, skills acquisition, the Annual St Paul Lecture, the Annual Inaugural Lecture, Sports Fiesta, and Cultural Fiesta ensure holistic formation.
The institute offers Two-Year Philosophical Studies and Three-Year Theological Studies leading to the Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology. Its Director, Rev. Fr Dr Nduka Uzor, MSP, is a scholar deeply committed to academic excellence and the spiritual formation of future leaders.