From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Muhammad Kamalud-deen University (MKU), Ilorin, has secured full accreditation for 10 of the 13 academic programmes recently assessed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), while the remaining three programmes received interim accreditation.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Rasheed Jimoh, disclosed this during an interview on The Beat radio programme, describing the development as a major milestone in the institution’s three-year journey since it obtained its licence to operate as a private university in June 2023.
Jimoh said the university received its licence on June 9, 2023, after which the NUC conducted a resource verification exercise on October 2, 2023, to assess its infrastructure, manpower and other requirements.
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According to him, the institution commenced academic activities between November and December 2023 with 15 programmes across two broad academic areas and has since grown its student population to more than 500.
The programmes include Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Statistics and Data Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, Plant Science and Biotechnology, Physics with Electronics, Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic Studies, History and International Studies, English Language, Economics, Business Administration and Accounting.
The Vice-Chancellor said the university subjected 13 of its programmes to NUC accreditation, with 10 receiving full accreditation and three granted interim status.
He explained that while full accreditation allows a programme to operate for five years before another assessment, interim accreditation requires the institution to address identified areas and undergo another assessment within two years.
Jimoh stressed that the accreditation was critical to the university’s credibility and the future of its students, particularly those preparing for graduation and mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“All our students who are going to graduate next year can be mobilised for NYSC. This is to give the public that level of confidence that our university is not just new, but a university that values standards and has done everything to ensure that we sustain the standard,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the university had commenced the process of obtaining institutional accreditation, a requirement expected to facilitate the conversion of its initial professional licence to a full operating licence.
He said the NUC conducted the institutional assessment of the university from April 20 to 23, 2026, with the institution currently awaiting the official outcome.
Jimoh further disclosed that the university had concluded preparations for additional programmes, which are awaiting NUC approval before commencement.
Among the proposed programmes are Bachelor of Laws (LLB), with options in Common Law and Common and Islamic Law, under the Faculty of Law.
The College of Health Sciences is also expected to offer programmes including Bachelor of Health Information Management, B.Sc. Information Technology and Health Informatics, Bachelor of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Doctor of Physiotherapy, B.Sc. Public Health, Bachelor of Community Health Science, Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Nursing Science and Bachelor of Environmental Health Science.
The development comes as the university continues to build its academic profile following its maiden matriculation and investiture ceremony, which formally welcomed its pioneer students into the institution.
A total of 146 students were admitted across 13 programmes for the maiden matriculation.
Islamic Studies recorded the highest enrolment with 51 students, followed by Cybersecurity with 15. Arabic and History and International Studies each had 12 students, while Business Administration had 11 and Accounting 10.
English Language, Computer Science and Plant Science and Biotechnology recorded eight students each, while Chemistry had five students. Software Engineering admitted three students, Economics two and Physics with Electronics one.
Established in honour of the late Sheikh Muhammad Kamalud-deen Al-Adaby, founder of the Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, the university is positioned as part of the continuation of his contribution to the advancement of Arabic and Islamic education in the country.
Sheikh Muhammad Kamalud-deen established the Ansarul Islam Society in 1942 and played a significant role in promoting education and human development.
Jimoh said the rapid growth of the university reflected its determination to build an institution anchored on academic excellence, innovation, research and human development.
The university is also looking ahead to its first set of graduates, with the Vice-Chancellor disclosing that the pioneer students are expected to enter their final year in October 2026, ahead of the institution’s maiden convocation in 2027.
He said the university would continue to strengthen its academic and institutional structures while maintaining the standards required by the NUC.
The Vice-Chancellor also acknowledged the contributions of the Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, parents, students, staff and other stakeholders to the development of the institution.
He noted that the university had deployed scholarship support from the Ansarul Islam Society to encourage enrolment in programmes such as Mathematics and Statistics and Data Science, which initially recorded low patronage.
Jimoh said the university remained committed to expanding educational opportunities while maintaining the standards necessary to produce graduates capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.
He urged staff, students, parents and other stakeholders to remain committed to the institution’s vision of building a respected centre for learning, research, innovation and community development.
