Another strong feather has been added to the scholarly wings of Rev. Fr. Professor Anthony Alaba Akinwale, OP, the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the revered Dominican University, Ibadan, and a scholar of great repute, as the Master of the Order of Preachers, Fr Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP recently conferred on him the title and degree of Magister in Sacra Theologia (Master in Sacred Theology).We recall that in medieval universities, the highest academic rank was the Master in Sacred Theology which is a “master’s degree” in the most ancient sense. This is now preserved and awarded by the Dominican Order, in accordance with the laws of the Church as established with the permission of Pope Benedict XI since 1310. In keeping with the Constitutions of the Dominican Order, the degree is granted to Dominican friars whom the Order holds in great honour, and those considered to be among the most distinguished scholars in the Order who have worked tirelessly for the understanding, protection and expansion of the Catholic faith and the academic discipline of sacred theology.To qualify for such great honour, it is expected that its recipient must have been teaching for at least 10 years and must be nominated by the Chapter of the Dominican Province to which he belongs. Additionally, he must have published books and articles judged to be of international scholarly standard by a group of experts chosen by the Master of the Order of Preachers and his Council. However, the Master of the Order makes the final decision based on the opinion received from the experts.Although it is rarely worn, the regalia of a Master in Sacred Theology is a four-finned black biretta, usually trimmed with scarlet, and a ring, which may be set with an amethyst. The new Master in Theology is expected to deliver a public lecture after receiving the title. Professor Akinwale becomes the third African Dominican to be conferred with this title and degree of Master in Sacred Theology. The first two were Fr. Albert Nolan, OP, of South Africa, and Fr. Liboire Kagabo, OP, of Burundi.Born in Lagos on June 10, 1962, Rev. Fr. Professor Anthony Alaba Akinwale, OP, studied Philosophy at the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul, Bodija, Ibadan. He was ordained a Dominican priest of the Order of Preachers in 1987. He holds the following degrees: a Bachelor of Theology from the Catholic University in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Master of Arts and a Licentiate in Theology from the Dominican University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology from Boston College, USA, where he began his university teaching career in 1993. He became a member of the faculty at the Dominican Institute, Ibadan in 1996 and was appointed pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Dominican University on August 21, 2017 Fr. Akinwale is a man of many parts who has contributed tremendously to the Church and the academic field. He is a Professor of Systematic Theology and Thomistic Studies, and the pioneer Dean of Studies at the Dominican Institute, Ibadan (1996-2000). He has been a Fellow of the DePaul University Centre for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology in Chicago since 2014 and at different times, he was a Consultant to the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, to the Nigerian Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission, and to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.
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