Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
Al- Muhibbah Open University based in Abuja, yesterday, matriculated 105 students across three faculties and 14 programmes as approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
At the unveiling and maiden matriculation of the university, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, tasked the Proprietor and Chancellor of the institution, Dr. Aisha Bala Muhammad, on devising creative innovations for qualifications, relevant to needs of the local community.
The minister said owing to the large pool of students searching for university education, there was need to open up the system for private education to meet the educational yearnings of the teeming Nigerian youths.
“Open distance learning education is a relatively new frontier for us and that is the direction our tertiary education is moving.
“I know as a fact, the government ownership of Open University has rose to over 700,000 students, the largest in Africa and the pool of young men and women who are interested in education is unsearchable and very large so certainly government cannot meet this demands.
“So it is appropriate that we open the system to private sector who are really committed to the provision of this level of education,” he added.
He charged the National Universities Commission and other regulatory agencies to come up with quality assurance mechanism to strengthen open universities.
“What we have at the moment is largely focused on conventional institutions, as we strengthen this level of university education, the public must have the assurance that they deliver the quality programmes which they give approval for.
“Secondly, one of the focus areas of this government are qualifications that are relevant to our local community, they must be relevant while having the same quality that will make you competitive in the international arena”.
“How do you become relevant within the local frontier? It is by ensuring that you have programmes that are embed in them skills which will make them readily employable or better still employers of Nigerians.
“This government is set and already working with corporate of skill sets of the Nigerian education sector right from primary schools to the university because the level we are now is such that we need more of people with skills who will provide solutions to Nigerian problems,” he added.
While congratulating the newly admitted students, Mamman charged them to adhere to the university’s regulations and contribute responsibly to the institution.
Also speaking, the Chancellor of the university, Aisha Muhammad, said the idea for establishing the university was to create opportunities for more Nigerian women and the less-privileged to attend higher education.
“I am committed to ensuring that the knowledge and skills we offer in Al-Muhibbah Open University will be the global best practices.
“Let me appreciate the corporation and support of National Universities Commission for reposing confidence in us and continuously supporting our equity.
“Our admission provided quality, affordable and accessible education. We shall uphold established standard with relevant regulatory bodies and the university is committed and open to positive and collaboration with government and non-governmental organisation,” she said.
She, therefore, urged the students to obey the laws of the university while demonstrating good conduct saying the university would not hesitate to punish students who violate the institution’s rules and regulations.
The Acting Executive Secretary, NUC, Chris Maiyaki, commended the university’s principal officers for the shared commitment to contributing to enhancing educational access as well as broadening equity.
The university was among the 37 private universities licenced nine month ago by the NUC to operate open and distance learning in Nigeria .
The approved programmes are business administration, economics, accounting, international relations, Marketing, project management and entrepreneurship.
Others are computer science, cyber security, software engineering, public health, nursing, science, data science and analytics and healthcare and hospital management.
The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammad, Managing Director of NAN, Ali Muhammad Ali, Emir of Bwari, Alhaji Auwal Ijakoro, among others, graced the maiden matriculation of the institution.
