Central Africa Baptist University

What Central Africa Baptist University does

Central Africa Baptist University (CABU) is a private, Christ-centered institution of higher education headquartered in Kitwe, Zambia, on a campus in the Riverside Extension neighborhood. The institution was chartered on April 5, 2004 as Central Africa Baptist College, opened to its first 12 students on February 13, 2006, and was upgraded to university status by the Higher Education Authority in January 2020. CABU serves primarily African students pursuing theological and educational credentials, with graduates reported as serving in 9 countries as of December 2020.

The university's academic portfolio comprises the School of Bible (Bachelor of Arts in Bible with emphases including Expository Preaching, Chaplaincy, Missions, Counseling, and Sign Language and Deaf Studies; Diploma in Bible), the School of Education (three-year Diploma in Primary Education approved by the Education Council of Zambia), and Central Africa Seminary (Master of Arts in Christian Studies delivered in-person and online). Supporting the residential curriculum, the Theological Studies by Extension (TSE) program delivers modular face-to-face instruction to pastors and church leaders across Africa through local church networks. The institution's broader ministry ecosystem includes Faith Radio 92.1 FM, a broadcasting arm based in Kitwe, and Imbila Publishers, a publishing house producing theological and educational materials.

CABU generates revenue through three principal streams: student tuition and fees (K9,500 per year for Bible and Education programs after a K1,750 Zambian-resident discount, plus separate boarding, exam, and graduation fees; seminary tuition is K2,500 per course), donations and charitable giving channeled through the supporting organization Central Africa Baptist College USA (CABCUSA), and commercial rental income from Link Business Park, a two-story commercial building on campus. Multiple scholarship programs (10/40, Spouse, Pastor/Alumni, Staff/Faculty) subsidize tuition for target populations. The institution is accredited by ACTEA (since 2017) and the Higher Education Authority (since January 2020), with the Diploma in Primary Education additionally recognized by the Education Council of Zambia.

Name

Central Africa Baptist University

Legal name

Central Africa Baptist University

Website

https://cabuniversity.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Central Africa Baptist University is a private, Christ-centered higher education institution in Kitwe, Zambia offering accredited undergraduate and graduate programs in Bible, theology, and primary teacher education, supplemented by distance theological training and a multi-faceted ministry ecosystem including a radio station and publishing house.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Higher education
• Biblical studies
• Primary teacher training
• Distance learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kitwe

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Tuition and Fees: CABU charges tuition and fees per program per year/semester. Full-time Bible and Education programs are billed at K9,500/year; seminary courses are K2,500 per course; certificate programs have separate fee structures. Additional fees include boarding (K9,500/year for dormitory), married student housing, medical fees, exam fees, and graduation fees. Payments are made at Stanbic Bank Plc. International students pay additional study permit and insurance fees.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: CABU receives donations through CABCUSA (Central Africa Baptist College USA), a supporting organization. The website links to donation pages at cabcusa.com/projects. Individual donations and donor-supported scholarships fund student financial aid, including the 10/40 Scholarship (full tuition for unreached people groups).
3. Commercial Income (Link Business Park): Link Business Park, a two-story commercial building adjacent to the campus, generates local income to support the university's annual operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Central Africa Baptist University (CABU) is a Christ-centered institution of higher education in Kitwe, Zambia that delivers residential undergraduate and graduate programs in Bible, Education, and Seminary studies. It supplements on-campus instruction with a Theological Studies by Extension (TSE) distance program that trains pastors and church leaders across Africa, and operates supporting ministry arms including Faith Radio 92.1 FM and Imbila Publishers.

Product overview

Central Africa Baptist University is a Christ-centered institution of higher education offering a portfolio of theological and educational programs. The university operates as a unified multi-faceted ministry comprising Central Africa Seminary, Faith Radio 92.1 FM, Imbila Publishers, and Theological Studies by Extension (TSE). Academic offerings include undergraduate and graduate degree programs (Bachelor of Arts in Bible, Master of Arts in Christian Studies), diploma programs (Diploma in Bible, Diploma in Primary Education), and certificate programs (Counseling, Chaplaincy Ministry, Sign Language and Deaf Studies). The TSE program extends theological training to pastors who cannot attend full-time. The institution serves students from across the African continent with a focus on Great Commission living and church-planting preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts in Bible A four-year undergraduate degree program equipping men and women for ministry in the local church, with emphases available in Expository Preaching, Chaplaincy, Missions, Counseling, or Sign Language and Deaf Studies.
• Diploma in Bible A diploma program requiring 96 credits for men and women seeking to be equipped for ministry in local churches.
• Diploma in Primary Education A three-year government-approved program for men and women who desire to teach from a Biblical worldview in primary school settings, recognized by the Education Council of Zambia (ECZ).
• Certificate in Counseling A one-year certificate program requiring 18 credits of Counseling courses.
• Certificate in Chaplaincy Ministry A two-year certificate program completed through a cycle of nine week-long block classes, designed for chaplaincy training.
• Certificate in Sign Language and Deaf Studies A two-year certificate program offering seven courses in the evening to accommodate working students, focused on sign language and deaf ministry.
• Master of Arts in Christian Studies A two-year graduate program (16 courses across four semesters) training students in biblical and historic Christian faith for church-based ministry in Sub-Saharan Africa, delivered in-person and online.
• Theological Studies by Extension (TSE) A distance program training local pastors and church leaders through face-to-face instruction modules and theological resources, offered in Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels with core and elective modules.
• Faith Radio 92.1 FM A radio station ministry of Central Africa Baptist University serving as part of the institution's broader mission to advance the gospel across Africa.
• Imbila Publishers A publishing arm of Central Africa Baptist University producing theological and educational materials.
• Central Africa Seminary The seminary division of Central Africa Baptist University offering graduate-level theological education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% post-graduation placement success (Bible program)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Faith Baptist Church RiversidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Faith Baptist Church Riverside in Kitwe, Zambia is the pastoral affiliation of Dr. Chopo Mwanza (Vice Chancellor Designate), who serves as Lead Pastor. The church is closely connected to CABU's ecosystem as part of the network of churches the university serves and trains leaders for.
• Sufficiency of Scripture Ministries (Uganda)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Dr. Chopo Mwanza serves as Adjunct Faculty with Sufficiency of Scripture Ministries in Uganda, extending his and CABU's teaching influence across the African continent through this ministry partnership.
• Higher Education Authority (HEA) - ZambiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020In January 2020, Central Africa Baptist College & Seminary was granted accreditation by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), upgraded to university status, and renamed Central Africa Baptist University.
• Education Council of Zambia (ECZ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020The Diploma in Primary Education program is government approved and recognized by the Education Council of Zambia (ECZ), allowing graduates to teach in Zambian primary schools.
• ACTEA (Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017CABC applied to ACTEA for accreditation for the theology program in 2016 and was accredited in 2017. ACTEA accreditation provides international recognition for CABU's theology programs across Africa.
• Carolina University (formerly Piedmont International University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013A partnership agreement was signed between Piedmont International University (now Carolina University), USA and CABC in 2013. This partnership offered a Piedmont master's degree in Biblical Studies at CABC. In 2020, an application was made to HEA for accreditation for a Master of Arts in Christian Ministries. Carolina University continues to serve as the home institution for several CABU faculty pursuing graduate studies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• African Bible University: A private evangelical theological university in Uganda offering Bible, theology, and ministry degree programs across the African continent. Directly comparable to CABU in mission, programmatic mix, and target student population of African Christian leaders.
• Africa International University: An evangelical theological university in Kenya offering Bible, theology, and ministry degrees with a pan-African student base. Closely aligned with CABU's Bible-college and seminary model and Great Commission mission focus.
• Southern Africa Theological Seminary: A theological seminary based in South Africa offering distance and residential ministry training. Comparable to CABU's TSE remote delivery model and theological program mix.
• ACTS (Africa Center for Theological Studies): A pan-African theological consortium in Kenya serving multiple African countries with accredited theological programs. Comparable to CABU as an accredited African theological training provider with cross-continental reach.
• Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture: A theological college in Ghana offering accredited Bible and ministry programs with a focus on African contextual theology. Comparable to CABU in scope, accreditation model, and theological education focus.
• Northland International University: A Baptist Bible college that helped catalyze CABU's founding through board-member involvement. Comparable to CABU as a confessional Baptist theological training institution with cross-cultural mission focus.

Broad incumbents

• Africa Nazarene University: A larger established private Christian university in Kenya with undergraduate and graduate theology programs plus broader secular degree offerings. Comparable as a faith-based higher education peer serving African Christian students with accredited credentials.
• Carolina University: US-based Baptist-affiliated university that has been CABU's academic partner since 2013, offering master's degrees and faculty development. Comparable as an established faith-based higher education institution in CABU's partnership network.

Regional players

• Zambia Adventist University: A faith-based private university in Zambia offering accredited undergraduate and graduate programs. Comparable to CABU as a competing private university operating in the same Zambian regulatory and student market.
• Justo Mwale Theological University College: A private theological college in Zambia offering Bible and theology programs. Direct domestic competitor to CABU for theological students within Zambia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CABUZambia
• Facebookfacebook.com/CentralAfricaBaptistUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-africa-baptist-university

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Central Africa Baptist University