Al-Hikmah University Records Highest Admission, 100% NUC Accreditation in VC’s First Year

 

By Felix Ajide
ILORIN – The Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Folorunsho Oladimeji, has highlighted major milestones recorded during his first year in office, including the institution’s highest student enrolment, a 100 per cent success rate in National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation, approval for Open Distance Learning (ODL), and improved global ranking.

Speaking at a press briefing to mark his first anniversary in office, Prof. Oladimeji said his administration was guided by a 10-point “Stress-Free” vision document aimed at positioning the institution as a globally recognised centre of academic excellence, moral rectitude and entrepreneurial development.

He said the university, now 22 years old, had evolved into a mature institution with a strong foundation and the capacity to fulfil its mandate in teaching, research and community service.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah secured NUC approval to commence Open  Distance Learning programmes after a successful resource verification exercise in August 2025, adding that admissions into the programme are already attracting significant interest from prospective students.

Prof. Oladimeji also disclosed that the university admitted more than 2,500 undergraduate students and over 1,354 postgraduate students during the 2025/2026 academic session, describing it as the highest enrolment since the institution’s establishment.

He added that over 900 fresh students had also been admitted into the sandwich programme.

On medical education, he said the university’s Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme had reached a significant milestone, with students set to commence clinical training in the next academic session following the designation of Sobi Specialist Hospital as Al-Hikmah University Teaching Hospital by the Kwara State Government.

He expressed appreciation to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for approving the arrangement and noted that a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed between the state government and the university.

The Vice-Chancellor further announced that the university achieved a 100 per cent success rate during the 2025 NUC accreditation exercise, with all 28 academic programmes presented receiving full accreditation.

As part of efforts to motivate staff, Prof. Oladimeji said the university promoted 17 academics to the professorial cadre, including five full professors and 12 associate professors.

He added that the university had intensified strategic planning, strengthened research collaborations through local and international university consortia, and sponsored more than 70 scholars to participate in the forthcoming KU8+ research conference.

On global visibility, the Vice-Chancellor said Al-Hikmah University improved its performance in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, moving from third to second position among universities in Kwara State.

He said the institution had commenced reforms to strengthen data management, digital visibility of research, documentation of community engagement activities and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)-focused research to improve future international rankings.

Prof. Oladimeji said the university had also introduced digitally enabled surveillance systems to curb examination malpractice while maintaining a stable academic calendar.

He noted that the institution had reactivated its sports unit and successfully organised its second sports festival, featuring football, athletics, badminton, chess, taekwondo, table tennis and other sporting events.

The Vice-Chancellor described security across the university’s three campuses at Adeta, Atere and Igbaja as stable, attributing the achievement to collaboration with security agencies in Kwara State.

Looking ahead, he outlined plans to complete critical infrastructure at the university’s teaching hospital, establish a Centre for Islamic Finance, Ethics and Entrepreneurship, complete the Faculty of Nursing Sciences Complex, Faculty of Law Phase II, Engineering Workshop, additional student hostels and a central cafeteria.

He also announced plans to establish Al-Hikmah Community Radio Station to enhance community engagement and promote the university’s academic programmes.

Prof. Oladimeji identified funding, student accommodation and technology integration as the institution’s major challenges but expressed confidence that continued stakeholder support would enable the university to realise its vision of becoming one of Africa’s leading institutions for sustainable development, innovation and academic excellence.

“Our ultimate goal is to build a university of character by producing graduates known for knowledge, faith and service in line with our motto, ‘Learning for Wisdom and Morality’,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Mulikat Ayoade Ibrahim, the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing Science, with the Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Afolayan took the pressman on the facilities tour of the University, particularly the ongoing Nursing Faculty building at Adeta and Law Faculty at Atere, Ilorin.