The Christian Union, out of which CUNAA UK-Europe and other chapters worldwide were born, began as the Evangelical Christian Union at Ekenwan campus of the University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria in October/November 1970 with Bro Mike Ohiorenoya was the first president (1970 – 1973).
Later at the Ugbowo Campus, the Christian Fellowship started in 1975 with Bro Eric Akpejuno as the president (1975 – 1978). However, during the 1978/1979 session, the Ekenwan and Ugbowo Campus fellowships merged to become Christian Union (UNIBEN/UBTH) with Bro Omadeli Boyo as the President.
In the early 1980s, graduants from the fellowship (and University of Benin) such as Bro Hope Onwah, decided that there was need for an Alumni fellowship which was popularly referred to as Senior Friends Fellowship.
The Senior Friends Fellowship was birthed as the brethren continued in fellowship and the first known Chairman is Bro Kingsley Akhigbe.
At one point, all the Campus Fellowships in Nigeria were being re-christened NIFES (Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students) and in the 1986/87 session when Bro Lawrence Obada of CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) was National President, the CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) was ousted from the group of Campus Fellowship that comprises NIFES because it would not change its name. After due consultations, the Mike Ajado-led executive of the CU Senior Friends Fellowship changed the name of the Alumni body to Christian Union Alumni Association (CUAA).
The merger of the CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) and NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) Campus Fellowships on November 2, 2003 gave birth to the CU-NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) Fellowship with Bro James Adebowale as President.
The separate Alumni bodies, CUAA and NIFES Alumni Fellowship UNIBEN/UBTH (NAFUUB) mooted the desire to also merge and this culminated in a joint reunion meeting that held between 1st and 3rd October 2004. The high-point of the reunion meeting was the setting-up of a joint committee with mandate to work out modalities for uniting the Alumni bodies. Based on the Committee’s submission, the Alumni bodies held separate conventions in 2005 so as to seek the valid mandate to the respective associations to go into the merger. The spirit that prevailed and drove the merger talk on the part of CUAA members was the zeal to have a unified Alumni Association as “Evangelical Students” that can accommodate all generations of senior friends that passed through this great Fellowship from inception.
At the 2006 Convention, a five-member executive led by Afebu Omo-Ikirodah was set up to serve as a caretaker committee of the CU-NIFES Alumni Association (CUNAA). This National Caretaker Committee was guided by the modus operandi “…together for a value-added life”.
God who has been our help in ages past is set to take us forward to greater heights. AMEN.
The Christian Union has come a long way since 1970 and below are names of its Presidents since inception:
| Session(s) | President | Fellowship Name |
| 1970 – 73 | Mike Ohioneroya | ECU – Ekenwan Campus |
| 1973 – 74 | Bro Braide | ECU – Ekenwan Campus |
| 1975 – 78 | Hope Onwah | ECU – Ekenwan Campus |
| 1975 – 78 | Eric Akpejuno | CF – Ugbowo Campus |
| 1978 – 79 | Peter Okoluko | CF – Ugbowo Campus |
| 1979 – 81 | Omadeli Boyo | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1981 – 82 | Chidi Akhara | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1982 – 83 | Steve Jemade | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1983 – 84 | Kehinde Simeon | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1984 – 85 | James Alozie Anyawun | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1985 – 86 | Lawrence Obada | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1986 – 87 | Festus Akhimien | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1987 – 88 | Omokhoa Adeleye | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1988 – 89 | Fidelis Osamusali | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1989 – 90 | Mike Ashiedu | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1990 – 91 | Victor Etianra | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1991 – 93 | Femi Adesanya | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1993 – 95 | Sunkanmi Osunsami | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1995 – 96 | Clint Uwadiae | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1996 – 97 | Tochukwu Ozoko | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1997 – 98 | Steven Ayinbuomwan | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1998 – 99 | Sylvester Daudu | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 1999 – 2000 | Joel Osakue | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2000 – 2001 | Henshaw Imasuen | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2001 – 2003 | Walter Ogana | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2003 – 2004 | James Adebowale | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2004 – 2005 | Meshach Enaohwo | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2005 – 2006 | Jereton Ihoeghian | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2006 – 2007 | Paul Michael | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2007 – 2008 | Walter Osauwagboe | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2008 – 2009 | Ehizogie Eboiyehi | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2009 – 2010 | Chris-Kelvins Ebare | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2010 – 2011 | Nosakhare Alele | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2011 – 2012 | Paul-Chuks Ajudeonu | CU-NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2012 – 2013 | Emeka Onochie | CU-NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2013 – 2014 | Elijah Ekhator | CU-NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2014 – 2015 | John-Believe Ehizibue | CU-NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2015 – 2016 | James Dolor | CU-NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2016 – 2017 | Godsent Ekhator | CU-NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2017 – 2018 | Elvis Ogheneovo | CU-NIFES (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2018 – 2019 | John Dolor | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |
| 2019 – 2020 | Chidubem Chukwuka | CU (UNIBEN/UBTH) |