Minaret University sets academic, moral tone as pioneer students take historic oath

Minaret University, Ikirun, has formally launched its academic journey with a strong emphasis on discipline, research, and moral integrity, as it inducted its pioneer students at a historic maiden matriculation ceremony.

The ceremony, held last Thursday, at the institution’s Multi-Purpose Hall, saw 12 students admitted into the university’s academic community—marking a significant milestone for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community-owned institution.

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdur-Rahman Abdullah, charged the pioneer cohort to combine academic excellence with upright character, stressing that education must go beyond intellectual attainment.

He described matriculation as more than a ceremonial exercise, noting that it represents the university’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals grounded in both scholarship and ethics.

“True education requires a balance between intellectual development and sound moral character,” Abdullah said, urging the students to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to research throughout their academic journey.

READ ALSO:

‘

• Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Clash in Sambisa Forest
• Suspected Terrorists Attack Mobile Force Camp in Kwara, Kill Three Officers
• Rejoinder: Criticism Is Not Campaigning — The Real Gap Is the Opposition

Also speaking, the Chancellor of the university and Amir (National Head) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Alatoye, described the matriculating students as trailblazers who would shape the institution’s legacy.

“You will be remembered as those who set the standard—academically, socially, and morally,” he said, challenging them to embrace excellence and discipline.

The pioneer students, who took the matriculation oath in a unified voice, were admitted into various departments including Computer Science, Cyber Security, Information Technology, and Accounting, reflecting the university’s focus on science, computing, and management disciplines.

The event also featured the inauguration of the Parents Consultative Assembly, aimed at fostering closer engagement between the university and parents, as well as strengthening stakeholder collaboration.

Established to provide quality education rooted in strong ethical values, Minaret University said the maiden matriculation signals the beginning of its vision to raise a generation of responsible and globally competitive graduates.

Minaret University sets academic, moral tone as pioneer students take historic oath

University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine

The University of Ilesa, Osun State, has secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for 97 academic programmes, including Medicine and Surgery, in what officials describe as a major milestone in the institution’s rapid transformation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing held on campus to mark the university’s progress since its upgrade from the former Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, in April 2023.

He said the institution has also recorded significant growth in student population, rising from fewer than 1,000 students at inception to over 15,000 within three years.

Professor Asaolu explained that the approved programmes cut across multiple faculties and disciplines, including Law, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Chinese Studies, and Special Education.

He added that the NUC has also approved the commencement of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, although final clearance is still being awaited from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before full admission into the programme begins.

According to him, “40 of our academic programmes currently enjoy full accreditation status from the NUC,” describing the achievement as remarkable for a young institution.

The Vice-Chancellor also announced that a new Faculty of Technology has been established, with programmes in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering already underway.

READ ALSO:

• Kachikwu Celebrates Court Victory, Says ADC Hijack Plot Failed
• Police Rescue 5 Gateway Polytechnic Students After Gun Battle With Kidnappers
• ASP Nuhu: Viral Delta Police Shooting Raises Questions Over Officer’s Past

He said the institution’s expansion reflects growing public confidence in its academic standards and infrastructure development.

Professor Asaolu revealed that the university has successfully recovered 15 acres of land and 24 housing units previously encroached upon by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. He said the recovered land will be used for the development of a Faculty of Technology complex.

He also disclosed that Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the upgrade of the State General Hospital, Ilesa, into the University of Ilesa Teaching Hospital to support clinical training and improve healthcare delivery in the region.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the university inherited dilapidated infrastructure at take-off, including obsolete buildings, low student population, and poor environmental conditions, but said it has now recorded a “significant turnaround.”

He credited key stakeholders including TETFund, NELFUND, the Owa Obokun Adimula, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, the Ijesa community, Zenith Bank Plc, and other donors for supporting ongoing development projects across the campus.

Professor Asaolu highlighted several infrastructural achievements, including an 18-hole golf course that recently hosted the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) 15th Qualifying School Seminar.

On academic reforms, he said the university has made programmes in the Faculties of Education and Agriculture tuition-free, while staff wards enjoy a 50 per cent tuition discount to encourage professionalism in teaching.

He added that UNILESA has established an Integrated Teaching and Research Farm featuring a cattle ranch, fish ponds, poultry facilities, and agro-processing units, designed to provide practical training for students.

Students are also receiving hands-on vocational training in 13 skill areas, including solar energy installation, Adire textile production, digital content creation, and agribusiness.

On staff welfare, the Vice-Chancellor praised Governor Ademola Adeleke for resolving long-standing labour issues, including the conversion of over 300 temporary staff into permanent positions and the payment of more than ₦3 billion in outstanding allowances to staff, retirees, and families of deceased workers.

He also commended the governor for approving the reconstruction of access roads within the university, which had reportedly been in poor condition for nearly two decades.

Professor Asaolu said students of the institution have continued to excel in academics, sports, and professional examinations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where some students have already progressed significantly.

He further noted that the university has hosted international conferences, its first inaugural lecture in March 2026, and a Distinguished Personality Lecture delivered by Dr Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the National Revenue Service.

Despite the progress, he identified challenges such as inadequate student accommodation, unstable electricity supply, and a shortage of lecture halls and laboratories.

“We are encouraged by the progress recorded thus far and are determined to sustain and surpass it,” he said, appreciating all stakeholders involved in the development of the institution.

University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine

OAU Shuts Campus for Three Weeks After Students’ Protest Over Transport, Welfare and E-Portal Crisis

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has shut down academic activities for a three-week mid-semester break following escalating student protests over transport challenges, welfare concerns, and disruptions linked to the university’s e-portal system.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, who confirmed that the closure was approved by the university Senate after days of unrest on campus. The Senate resolution directed all students to proceed on immediate break as a safety measure. The management explained that the action became necessary after protests over a newly introduced campus transportation system led to the blockage of major access roads within the university and reports of alleged harassment of road users. Authorities said the situation disrupted movement and raised serious safety concerns for students, staff, and the wider university community. According to the university, repeated attempts to engage student leaders and restore order did not fully de-escalate tensions, prompting the decision to suspend academic activities temporarily. Officials added that the break would allow the institution to restore normalcy and prevent further breakdown of law and order on campus.

READ ALSO:

• NLC Warns Inflation Has Destroyed Value of Workers’ Earnings
• Momodu Defends Atiku, Condemns Political “Bullying” in Nigerian Opposition
• Akpabio Declares Jimoh Ibrahim’s Senate Seat Vacant

The shutdown follows a large-scale protest organised by the OAU Students’ Union, which mobilised students across campus to demand urgent action on transportation difficulties, accommodation shortages, and administrative delays affecting academic processes. The protest was backed by a resolution passed at a congress held at Awo Café, where students agreed on a peaceful demonstration aimed at compelling the university management to address long-standing welfare concerns.

One of the major triggers of the unrest was the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for intra-campus transportation. Students complained that the system led to long queues, delays, and difficulty accessing different parts of the campus, worsening daily movement and academic punctuality. The transport reform was introduced following the donation of buses by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as part of efforts to improve mobility within the university. However, students argued that the implementation was poorly managed, creating fresh operational challenges instead of solving existing ones.

Beyond transportation, students also raised concerns over disruptions caused by the ongoing e-portal upgrade, which affected course registration, result checking, and other key academic services. There were also complaints about planned evacuation procedures affecting students in Awolowo Hall, further heightening tensions and contributing to the protest movement across campus.

The management said the three-week break will be used to engage stakeholders, including student representatives, to address the grievances raised and develop lasting solutions to the transport and welfare challenges. Authorities assured that academic activities would resume after stability is restored and necessary adjustments are made to improve campus systems and prevent a repeat of the disruption.

OAU Shuts Campus for Three Weeks After Students’ Protest Over Transport