A New Year Message from Prof. Esther Mombo, Ag. Vice-Chancellor, St. Paul’s University
Dear Esteemed Members of the St. Paul’s University Family,
Happy New Year 2026! Welcome back to your University of Choice.
As we step into this new academic year, I invite us to begin with gratitude, hope, and confidence firmly anchored in the promises of God. Jeremiah 31:7–14 offers us a profound lens for this moment in our shared journey as a university community.
In this passage, God calls the people to sing with joy, to proclaim praise, and to trust in a future shaped not by fear or loss, but by divine gathering, restoration, and abundance. God promises to gather the scattered, to lead them beside streams of water, to guide them on level paths where they shall not stumble, and to turn mourning into gladness. This is not merely a word for ancient Israel; it is a living word for us at St. Paul’s University today. I share with us four thoughts from this text:
1. Gathering with Gratitude
As we begin 2026, I pause to sincerely thank each of you—staff and students—for your individual and collective efforts throughout 2025. Like the gathered community in Jeremiah’s vision, we come from different disciplines, departments, experiences, and challenges, yet we stand together as one university. It is your resilience, commitment, creativity, and faithfulness that enabled St. Paul’s University to make meaningful progress and register important milestones, even in demanding seasons. In biblical terms, we have been gathered, sustained, and guided—and we did not stumble.
2. Stabilized for the Journey Ahead
Jeremiah reminds us that God leads God’s people on level paths, ensuring that even the vulnerable are not left behind. As a university, this speaks powerfully to our present calling: to stabilize our systems, strengthen our academic foundations, and ensure that our institutional journey is inclusive, ethical, and sustainable. Looking ahead, I believe we are entering a season in which St. Paul’s University will continue to rise, not only as a center of academic excellence, but as a Launchpad for globally minded thinkers, ethical leaders, innovators, and servants of society, equipped to contribute meaningfully to the church, nation, and world.
3. Shaping the Future with Courage and Hope
Jeremiah’s vision culminates in abundance—a well-watered garden, joy replacing sorrow, and life flourishing. This is a powerful metaphor for the future we are called to shape together. This is therefore a year to think boldly, act courageously, and embrace purposeful sacrifice for the common good of our institution. As Nobel Peace Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf reminds us: “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” Let us dare to dream beyond comfort, beyond fear, and beyond limitation—pursuing our calling with courage, passion, and perseverance, trusting that God goes before us on this path.
4. A Community Bound Together
Jeremiah’s promise is communal, not individualistic. In the passage, God gathers a people. In the same spirit, let the philosophy of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—guide our relationships, decisions, and leadership. The success of St. Paul’s University does not rest on one individual, but on the strength of a committed, collaborative, and accountable community. Let us intentionally break down barriers that hinder service delivery, nurture trust across all levels, and continually remember that our students come first.
A Call to Action
I urge all members of staff to remain grounded in the ideals and mission of the university, to stay hungry for growth, and to serve faithfully and excellently in your respective departments and areas of calling.
To our students: you are the reason we exist. In the language of Jeremiah, you are part of the future God is gathering and nurturing. We remain committed to ensuring that your academic and formative journey at St. Paul’s University is meaningful, supportive, and transformative. I pledge to walk with you through this journey and to honor the promises made to you when you joined this great institution.
Together, we carry the spirit of SPU, a spirit rooted in service to God and humanity. Let us live out this calling with pride, purpose, integrity, and resilience, even as we navigate the challenges that inevitably arise.
As we embark on the January–April Semester 2026, may we do so as a people gathered by God, stabilized by shared purpose, and committed to shaping a hopeful future. May God guide our decisions, bless our labour, strengthen our community, and lead us into seasons of joy, fruitfulness, and lasting impact.
God bless you all.
Prof. Esther Mombo Ag. Vice-Chancellor, St. Paul's University
