About Us

IPTT was founded by Pastor Nick Kennicott in 2013. He began traveling to the Egbe, Nigeria in 2010, seeking opportunities for the church he pastored to engage in a long-term missions effort in an underserved region of the world. In 2011 and 2012, he returned to Nigeria and hosted two pastors’ conferences in Egbe. He became convinced that the Nigerian people were eager to learn the Word of God and that the men serving in the churches were largely underserved, untrained, and unequipped. Lacking the resources to attend seminaries or leave their local communities, he had a firm conviction that there was a need for more intensive training beyond annual conferences. He developed a plan for three years of courses, and in 2013, he selected ten students, and IPTT was established.

IPTT was recognized as a degree-granting institution by the Nigerian Federal Government and the Minister of Education in 2014. In 2016, IPTT acquired ten plots of land to initiate the construction of a campus in Egbe. The Elegbe of Egbe attended the groundbreaking ceremony. The state-of-the-art IPTT campus was constructed, and the Elegbe returned for the ribbon-cutting ceremony in 2024. Today, IPTT has three classrooms, an extensive theological library, ample office space, and a large guesthouse for visiting lecturers. Students and staff enjoy uninterrupted electricity, high-speed internet, and video conference capabilities. The institute also owns additional land for future expansion.

Welcome to the Institute of Pastoral and Theological Training. Whether you have arrived here as a prospective student, a supporter of our work, a fellow laborer in the gospel, or simply a curious visitor, I am glad you have taken the time to learn about what the Lord is doing through IPTT in Egbe, Nigeria.

IPTT exists for the local church. Every course we offer, every book our students open, and every hour spent in the classroom are oriented toward preparing faithful men to shepherd Christ’s flock and to carry the gospel to those who have not yet heard it. We are convinced that the health of the church in any generation depends, under God, on the faithfulness and competence of those called to preach the Word and care for souls. Our work is an effort to serve the church by serving the men the church will send. We are also committed to providing laymen and women with opportunities to deepen their theological understanding in the areas of ministry where they serve.

Our curriculum is academically rigorous. Students engage the biblical languages, systematic and historical theology, pastoral ministry, and missions under the guidance of qualified instructors who are themselves seasoned pastors and experienced scholars. We make no apology for the demands we place on our students, because the ministry itself is demanding, and shortcuts in preparation produce shortcuts in the pulpit.

Yet rigor alone does not make a pastor. At IPTT we give equal attention to the spiritual formation of each student. Personal mentorship, patterns of prayer, fellowship with faculty, and life together in a learning community shape the man alongside the mind. We aim to graduate those who are not only capable theologians but mature disciples of Christ.

Our campus in Egbe has been built with this vision in mind. Students study in a well-equipped, modern environment designed to support focused learning, genuine community, and long hours in the Word.

I warmly invite you to explore our site, review our courses of study, and learn more about the Institute’s faculty, mission, and daily life. If you are considering theological training for yourself, praying about how to support gospel work in Africa, or simply have questions about what we do, please do not hesitate to reach out. We would be glad to hear from you.

May the Lord bless you as you visit, and may he raise up a generation of faithful pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders through the work of IPTT for the good of his church and the glory of his name.

The Institute of Pastoral and Theological Training exists to train pastors, missionaries, and church planters for faithful ministry aimed at transforming lives, churches, and nations. We exist primarily to train and equip men called to vocational ministry who will fulfill Christ’s Great Commission by making disciples across Nigeria, Africa, and the globe (Matthew 28:18–20; 2 Timothy 2:2).

Additionally, as a partner of the local church, IPTT seeks to deepen the understanding of Scripture for laymen and laywomen, empowering them to serve Christ more effectively in their congregations and communities (Ephesians 4:12–13). IPTT is committed to providing rigorous, Christ-centered instruction that cultivates a deep knowledge of God’s Word, practical skills for ministry, unwavering devotion to Christ, and a Christlike character, so that graduates may glorify Him through faithful, excellent service to the Church and the world (1 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Peter 1:5-8).

At IPTT, we are committed to fostering intellectual and spiritual development. Our seminary board, staff, faculty, and students are required to maintain active membership in a local church and to uphold the highest standards of Christian conduct and excellence in all they do. Above all, IPTT is dedicated to pursuing every objective with unwavering fidelity to biblical truth and ethics, all to the glory of God.