“Faith in Action: Breaking New Grounds” is the theme with which we started the academic year 2024. This Theme has been our consistent story over the years. Although it was expressed in different facets nevertheless, it has been a journey of faith. But, breaking new grounds? Certainly the year 2024 has been a year of breaking new ground. While there are so many things to share, I believe the news of ECC’s transition to Emmanuel Christian University is the incredible, breathtaking, and humongous story of the year. The staff and faculty almost blew off the rooftop of the hall when they heard, “The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology has approved the change of ECC to Emmanuel Christian University. Having found that it has fulfilled all the requirements. Emmanuel Christian College (ECC) the name that we have been associated with and has been our identity over the last 14 years vanished in the air as the staff and faculty ululated, cheered and shouted the new name: E-C-U! E-C-U!! E-C-U!!! This is absolutely groundbreaking.

ECU’s story of faith continues as our determined and faithful faculty members continue to display hard work, resilience, and sacrifices making the institution a haven of hope in a nation where many are becoming overly critical and cynical about education. With our tuition fee scholarships for the pastors and women leadership development, many young men and women are breaking new terrains in their faith and life journey. This year more than 111 students graduated from various programs of the University. But they didn’t just graduate, they graduated from Emmanuel Christian University. A student who missed the ECC graduation in 2021 stated:

When I had completed all my courses in 2022, I was told there was not going to be a graduation. When I requested if I could get my degree, I was told it will only be issued after graduation. I was only given a temporary transcript. I was greatly discouraged. However, I heard that there will be graduation in 2024, it was wonderful news for me. It was even more wonderful and was filled with greater joy when I learned we will graduate with a certificate of Emmanuel Christian University.  The delay for my graduation has worked out for my good. Glory to Jesus! __ Kolo Isaac Enock

Rev. Dr. Master Matlhaope, the General Secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa who was the Guest Speaker in the event challenged the faculty, graduates, church and government leaders to use Christ-centred education and determination to build the South Sudan we want.

H.E. Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamillo Wani, Governor of Central Equatoria State and representative of the President as Guest of Honour delivered President’s congratulatory message to the graduates and leadership for the graduation and the transition of the institution to university. He expressed the happiness of the President and added that he encouraged the administration to work harder to be a lead university to offer best academic programs to help develop the nation. The Governor appealed to the ECU Administration to add more programs such as medicine, nursing, engineering, computer Science, Agriculture, and environmental Science to equip the youth tackle contemporary challenges in the nation, the region and the world at large.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Ag. Undersecretary Dr. Atem stressed the need for more technical programs in the University in order to empower the youth to be job creators and reduce the influx of job seekers in the cities.

Emmanuel Christian University is the first registered private institution of higher learning that is operating outside Juba city. The inauguration and graduation event of ECU at the Yei Freedom Square was attended by over 2500 people including church, community and government leaders at the state and national level.