Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin Marks 20th Anniversary, Achievements from 70 To 13,000 Students Population

 

 

Prof. Noah Yusuf, Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, says the institution, which started 20 years ago with 70 students across three Faculties, currently has over 13,000 students’ population spread across Undergraduates, Postgraduates, Part-time and Distant learning programmes.

The Vice-Chancellor disclosed this at the 14th convocation and 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Award Night held on Monday at Adeta campus in Ilorin.

Prof. Yusuf politely requested all dignitaries at the event to stand up and give a standing and loud ovation to the Founder and Chairman Board of Trustees of the institution, who was not educated, Alhaji Chief (Dr.) AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, OFR, FNAEAP, fspsp, Asiwaju and Jagunmolu of Igbominaland, Arogundade of Lagos and Baba Oba of Offa.

The Vice-Chancellor prayed that the Almighty Allah (SWT) bless and keep the Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the University for the vision.

According to him, the three Faculties at the inception 20years ago have increased to eight Faculties (plus the Postgraduate School and College of Health Sciences) – Agriculture, Computing, Engineering and Technology, Education, Health Sciences and Law.

“Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin – the 1st Islamic Faith-based University in Nigeria, received its licence (FGN No. 010), which was presented to the President-General of AROIF from Prof. Musalim Jubril, the then Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) at exactly 1.50p.m by the then Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Fibian Osuji at a civic reception held at Idris Abdulkadir Auditorium, NUC, Abuja, Friday, 7th January, 2005.

“Consequently, full academic activities commenced in the 2005/2006 academic session with 70 students spread across three Faculties (then Colleges) namely Humanities and Social Sciences, Management Sciences and Natural and Applied Sciences.

“Twenty years on, Al-Hikmah University has grown to become a renown citadel of knowledge occupying an important status in the Comity of Universities nationally and internationally. The University has witnessed a great transformation in virtually all aspects.

“Currently, the University has 55 undergraduate academic programmes all of which have secured NUC full accreditation.

“The University has also grown with respect from its postgraduate students of less than 200 in 2020 enrolment to over 2,000 in 2025.

“Infrastructural Development: From a modest few structures at Adeta campus to the present multiple structures – lecture rooms, laboratories, offices, hostels and other specialized facilities such as Moot Court, sports arena, spread across three Campuses in Adeta, Atere and Igbaja.

“Finally, the University has also expanded in its staffing profile from about 50 staff (academic and non-teaching) to the current workforce of 1,675,” he said.

Prof Yusuf noted that while the above has painted the picture of the successes of the University since inception to date, nevertheless, the institution was facing some challenges and request for support of meaningful Nigerians.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the most pressing challenge of the University is inadequate funds. The spiral effect of this challenge is the inability to meet some critical needs of the University.

He used the opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to support the University in the following areas: Construction of hostels to be endowed after the name of the donor; construction of faculty buildings to be endowed in the name of the donors; Joint construction of classrooms and offices to be endowed in the name of the donors; scholarship grant to indigent students; research funding for academic staff of the University among others.

Dignitaries present at the occasion included Former Katsina State Governor and Chairman TETFund, Alhaji Aminu Masari, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, Former NUC boss, Prof Okojie, all the former four Vice-Chancellors of the institution, among others.

Highpoint of the event included presentation of various categories of Awards and Induction past Vice-Chancellors into Hall of Fame of the University.

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