CIWA Rector, Prof. Jude Asanbe, marks 36 years as a priest
By Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh
Rev. Fr. Jude Abidemi Asanbe was born into the family of Sir NG and Lady MM Asanbe on 26 September, 1962; a Catholic family that spans over a centenary of Catholic heritage.
The young Jude, attended several primary schools (Ile ife, Gbogan and Ikire) on account of frequent transfers of his father, who was an Inspector of Education.
He was admitted into the Seminary of Ss. Peter and Paul, Bodija Ibadan on the 2nd of October, 1978 at the tender age of 16. He completed his study at Bodija in 1985 attaining the height of the Senior Prefect that year. He had the record of being a Prefect for 6 years of the seven years in the Seminary.
He was ordained a Deacon on 22 December, 1984 and became a priest on 20 December, 1986. He had to be dispensed for both diaconate and priesthood.
His academic pursuit took him to CIWA (1985 – 1987); Pontifical Urban University, Rome (1992 – 1996).
He joined CIWA Academic Staff in the year 2001. He rose through the ranks to be Professor of Canon Law. In his 20 years of teaching and researching in CIWA, he has has held several offices, including, Coordinator, sub Degree Programmes and Language Programmes (2001 – 2008) the HOD, Canon Law (2008 – 2016); Dean, Faculty of Canon Law (2016 – 2019); Acting Rector ( June 2019 – August 2022) and Rector (August 2022 till date).
This erudite scholar has a litany of firsts, the first Deacon to be admitted to CIWA in 1985, the longest serving member of Senate, the first Academic Staff of CIWA to be appointed Rector of CIWA and the first Alumnus of CIWA to be so appointed.
He has over a hundred publications to his credit.