Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Adeleke, will be joined by two of Nigeria’s most respected traditional rulers—the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi—at the official inauguration of Minaret University, Ikirun, as it commences its first academic session.
The ceremony, scheduled for February 5, 2026, will also feature the investiture of the university’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdul Rahman Abdullah. This was disclosed by the First African UNESCO Laureate and Founding Member of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Sir Bashiru Aremu, during a telephone conversation with Daily Independent on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
Prof. Aremu explained that Minaret University, Ikirun, is a private institution owned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, adding that it received approval from the Federal Government and the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2025. He noted that the institution was established with a vision anchored on moral and intellectual development, aimed at producing graduates equipped with relevant skills and knowledge for national and global relevance.
According to him, the Amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria and Chancellor of Minaret University, Barrister Alatoye Azeez Folorunso, will formally present the pioneer Vice-Chancellor to the academic community and host town of Ikirun, marking a defining moment in the university’s academic journey.
Minaret University currently offers undergraduate programmes across two faculties—Science & Computing, and Management & Social Sciences. Courses available include Data Science, Information Technology, Computer Science, and Cyber Security under Science & Computing, while Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, and Logistics & Supply Chain Management are offered under Management & Social Sciences. Admission into the university requires a minimum UTME score of 150 and five O’Level credits in relevant subjects.
The inauguration will take place at the university’s mini campus, a property of the global Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, underscoring the institution’s commitment to quality education and youth development.
Expressing optimism about the university’s future, Prof. Aremu, a renowned academic and world record holder, described the launch as a new chapter in Osun State’s educational landscape. He said the institution’s leadership and academic vision position it to become a centre of learning and innovation, capable of producing graduates who will make meaningful contributions to their communities and the nation at large.
“Minaret University Ikirun is highly committed to academic excellence and strong ethical values,” he said, adding that the institution is well poised to play a transformative role in Nigeria’s higher education sector.