BABCOCK UNIVERSITY (BU)—as it is now known—actually began on September 17, 1959 as Adventist College of West Africa (ACWA). Established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a senior college for training church workers from the West African sub-region, ACWA opened its doors with only seven ministerial students. By 1966, when it graduated the first set of Bachelor of Arts degree holders in its own name, enrolment included students taking Business Administration as potential accountants within and outside the Church; and two-year Pre-Nursing students in preparation to pursue a nursing career at the Church’s School of Nursing at Ile-Ife, Osun State. History was made in 1975 when ACWA became the first institution in Nigeria to sign and operate an affiliation agreement with Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA. This relationship enabled it to award Bachelor of Arts degrees from Andrews University in Biology, Business Administration, History, Religion and Secretarial Studies.

1975 was also the year ACWA was renamed Adventist Seminary of West Africa (ASWA) in response to the dynamics of its socio-political environment. In 1983, restricting local factors again necessitated the phasing out of the Bachelors programmes in Biology and Business Administration. In 1988, ASWA reached another academic milestone through an affiliation agreement with the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary of Andrews University, which authorized it to offer Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry. Master of Arts in Religion was added in 1990 and both programmes were operated during Summer sessions from 1997 to 2007. In order to attain national recognition for its status and programmes, an attempt to obtain a local affiliation with University of Ibadan, under the name “Babcock College” was initiated.

The process of affiliation with the University of Ibadan was still in progress when the Federal Government of Nigeria included Babcock University as one of the first three private universities in the country, announced on April 20, 1999. At a public ceremony presided over by the then Honourable Minister of Education, Mr. Sam Olaiya Oni, at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, on May 10, 1999, the Certificate of Registration No:002 was handed over to BU Pioneer Chancellor and Chairman of the University Council, Pastor Luka T. Daniel in his capacity as the President of the Africa-Indian Ocean Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Proprietors formally inaugurated the University on June 17, 1999. The first batch of 1,006 students arrived on September 13, 1999 and their Matriculation Ceremony was presided over by the Visitor to the University, President of the General Conference and world leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from Washington, D.C, USA, Pastor/Professor Jan Paulsen, on January 28, 2000. The University commenced with three faculties (which later became Schools)—Faculty of Education and Humanities, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, and Faculty of Science and Technology with eleven departments. The School of Law and Security Studies became the fourth School. The 7th graduation on June 07, 2009 marked the 50th Anniversary of the institution, and the 10th Anniversary of the university. The event attracted Federal and State dignitaries, as well as leaders from the World Headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Being a pioneer private University in Nigeria since 1999, Babcock has continued this legacy of upholding a cutting-edge excellence in education. Babcock now has a postgraduate school which took off in the third quarter of 2010 and a medical school which took off in January 2012.

Similarly, a deliberate expansion policy of our programmes to meet current market demands and maximum service delivery has resulted in departmental upgrades and addition of new programmes. The latest additions are the Music & Creative and Educational Foundations departments to School of Education & Humanities. Today, Babcock hosts the following ten schools:

Benjamin S. Carson (Snr.) School of Medicine
Veronica Adeleke School of Social Sciences
School of Basic & Applied Sciences
School of Computing & Engineering Sciences
School of Education and Humanities
School of Law & Security Studies
School of Nursing Sciences
School of Public & Allied Health
School of Science and Technology
School of Management Sciences
School of Postgraduate Studies
As the pace-setter in private education delivery, Babcock has earned an award as the Best Private University in Africa. Indeed, Babcock is the leader in Nigeria in offering an education that inspires hope and transforms lives.

SABBATH HOURS
In keeping with biblical guidelines, the Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. Babcock University community observes the Sabbath “according to the commandment” (i. e. Saturday, the day between the Good Friday of Christ’s crucifixion and the Easter Sunday of Christ’s resurrection). The University expects all employees on campus to demonstrate a spirit of understanding and reverence to God, and are welcome to participate in the worship experience throughout the Sabbath hours.

In this regard, all offices and work activities end at 1.00 p.m. on Friday to enable all employees prepare for the Sabbath.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
The Seventh-day Adventist philosophy of education is Christ-centred. Adventists believe that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God’s character and purposes can be understood as revealed in nature, the Bible, and Jesus Christ. The distinctive characteristics of Adventist education—derived from the Bible and the writings of Ellen G. White--point to the redemptive aim of true education: to restore human beings into the image of their Maker.

Seventh-day Adventists believe that God is infinitely loving, wise, and powerful. He relates to human beings on a personal level, presenting His character as the ultimate norm for human conduct and His grace as the means of restoration.

Adventists recognize that human motives, thinking, and behaviour have fallen short of God’s ideal. Education, in its broadest sense, is a means of restoring human beings to their original relationship with God. Working together, homes, schools, and churches, cooperate with divine agencies in preparing learners for responsible citizenship in the world to come.

Adventist education imparts more than academic knowledge. It fosters a balanced development of the whole person—spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially. Its time dimensions span eternity. It seeks to build character akin to that of the Creator; to nurture thinkers rather than selfish ambition; to ensure maximum development of each individual’s potential; to embrace all that is true, good, and beautiful.

AIM AND MISSION
Adventist education prepares people for useful and joy-filled lives, fostering friendship with God, whole-person development, Bible-based values, and selfless service in accordance with the Seventh-day Adventist mission to the world.