The Catholic Church was praised by Alex Otti, the governor of ABIA State, for founding the first university in Umuahia, the state capital.The Lux Mundi University is situated in Umuahia North Council's new Ndagbo City, IsiamaAfaraukwu/Ossah, Ibeku.
Lux Mundi, an Italian term meaning "Light of the World," is one of the private institutions that the National institutions Commission (NUC) of the Federal Government recently authorized and licensed. It has ties to Florida's Apollos University in the United States of America (USA).
The university would replace the void left by Umuahia's lack of a university, according to an ecstatic Otti, who expressed satisfaction at the vision of the institution's pro-chancellor and founder, Prof. Gabriel O. C. Okenwa, an indigenous of the host town. He pledged to help the university whenever it needed it.
The development has the host community in a frenzy, and Eze Edwin Ibeabuchi, the traditional ruler of Afaraukwu Ibeku, has praised Prof. Okenwa's vision for "bringing this monumental development stride to Umuahia City in general, and particularly, Afaraukwu/Ossah, Ibeku Community."
On November 28, 2023, the university opened for business, accepting students into its three faculties: law, management sciences, arts, and social sciences.
Pioneering Principal Officers of the university include Archbishop Lucious Ugorji, Chancellor/Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT); Associate Professor Ahmed A. Audi, Alternate Chairman, BoT; Prof. Okenwa, Founder/Pro Chancellor; Prof. Augustine Uwakwe, Chairman of the Governing Council; Prof. Paul Eidson, Vice Chancellor; and Acting Registrar, Blessing Ibebunjo.
According to Uwakwe, who spoke with The Guardian, the university's motto is "Illuminating Humanity," continues to attract a large number of potential pioneer students.
He attributed the university's popularity for admission to its convenient location, reasonable tuition, special arrangement that allows students to receive brand-new HP laptop computers, scholarship opportunities for the first 50 students, and the ability for international affiliation to allow students to complete their degrees in the United States after three years.