By Adeleke Gbenga
The Federal Ministry of Education, along with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has been tasked with doubling efforts and remaining steadfast in its regulatory duties of managing university education in Nigeria.
This advice was given by the Al-Hikmah University Vice Chancellor, Professor Noah Yusuf recently while reviewing his five years tenure in office that would soon come to an end in the next three month during an interview with this reporter.
Professor Noah Yusuf reiterated that this becomes necessary in view of the proliferation of the universities being licenced to operate in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor stressed that he was not against the establishment of more universities which is being condemned in some quarters as unnecessary ”proliferation of universities” in so far as these newly established universities along with the existing ones were strictly monitored by the regulatory authorities.
He justified the establishment of more universities which some stakeholders had condemned as ”proliferation of universities” reiterating that their establishment was warranted by large number of prospective applicants applying for admission in the Nigerian Universities which the existing ones could not accommodate.
Professor Yusuf described the proliferation of universities as indication of thirst for knowledge among the Nigerian teeming youth population.
The Vice Chancellor stressed that youths’ thirst for knowledge should not be exterminated in the name of streamlining the number of the universities to a manageable size.
He advocated for a more strict monitoring by the regulatory authorities to prevent compromise of standard.
The university administrator thanked Almighty Allah and the proprietor of the Al-Hikmah University, Chief Oladimeji Igbaja for giving him opportunity to serve the institution, stressing that his five years tenure as the helmsman of the institution was eventful with remarkable activities and achievements he is leaving behind as legacies.
Professor Noah Yusuf said he leaves posterity to judge his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the university.
Among achievements he is leaving behind as legacies including establishment of Centre for Peace and Security Studies, establishment of Al-hikmah international school now flourishing, NUC approval of the institution’s academic programmes, upliftment of quality of academic programmes and staff, creation of inaugural lecture with the 5th inaugural lecture being delivered, lifting the aesthetic quality of the university with flowering beautification, digitalization of the university’s administrative processes up to the promotion processes thus making the institution paperless.
The legacies also include construction of more building structures with eight hostels including the postgraduate hostel, approval of faculty of Nursing Science while the university’s first set of medical students matriculated on 10th April 2025 among other legacies.
Professor Noah Yusuf assumed Al-hikmah University’s Vice Chancellorship on 30th July 2020.
By July 2025, he is expected to relinquish office, thus spending a one term, five years in office as Al-hikmah University’s Vice Chancellor.