In a significant development for Nigeria’s education sector, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, are set to lead the inauguration ceremony of a new faith-based university in Osun State. The event, slated for Thursday, February 5, 2026, will also mark the investiture of the first Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
The Minaret University, Ikirun, a private university established by the global Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, is among the newly licensed private tertiary institutions approved by the Federal Government in 2025. The ceremony will take place at the university’s temporary site in Ikirun, located along the Ikirun-Offa Expressway in Osun State’s South West region.
A Historic Moment for Faith and Learning
According to a statement released by Dr. Qasim Akinreti, Media Lead of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat of Nigeria, the investiture event will see Professor Abdul Rahman Abdullah officially presented as the university’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor to both the academic community and residents of Ikirun.
Governor Adeleke, who will preside over the ceremony alongside the Sultan and the Ooni, has commended the founders of the university for choosing Osun State as the host for the institution, noting the importance of higher education in shaping Nigeria’s future.
In a related statement delivered during the inauguration, Adeleke emphasised the critical role of education in fostering good governance and active citizenship. He stated that an educated populace is better equipped to scrutinise leadership, resist misinformation, and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Expanding Educational Access in Osun
Minaret University joins a growing list of private higher-education institutions in Osun State, including established faith-based universities such as Adeleke University in Ede and Fountain University in Osogbo. These institutions reflect a broader trend in private investment in tertiary education that combines academic excellence with moral and religious values.
Aside from academic programmes, the university is also launching its first publication on global peace, titled The Super Powers – Geopolitics of World War and The Pathway to Peace, authored by Hafiz Yunus Omotayo, a missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and a journalist.
Unity Through Shared Vision
The joint involvement of Governor Adeleke, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Ooni of Ife underscores a spirit of cooperation between political leadership and traditional institutions across religious lines. Their presence at the event highlights shared aspirations for education that promotes social cohesion and national development.
As Minaret University prepares to welcome its first cohort of students, stakeholders and education advocates in Osun and beyond are watching closely, hopeful that the institution will not only contribute to Nigeria’s academic landscape but also nurture future leaders grounded in faith and service.