By Ahmed Ahmed
The Chancellor of Al-Muhibbah Open University Abuja with Center in Bauchi Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed has said the university focuses much on skills that would drive graduate employability in the country.
Mohammed stated this at the maiden matriculation ceremony of 105 students admitted for the 2023/2024 academic sessions on Friday in Abuja concurrently in Bauchi Virtually.
She said students need a mixture of hard and soft skills to adapt to the future of work especially women and the vulnerable youth
“The current cohort of students will be taking on jobs that do not currently exist. Higher education institutions need to prepare their students for this uncertain future.
“Universities should be thinking from a skills-first perspective, in addition to what they are already doing, to help ensure that young people are prepared for employment in the future,” the Chancellor said
Aisha Mohammed however warned admitted students into the institution to stay off misconduct in the pursuit of their academic certificates.
She noted that the university had zero tolerance for any form of crime and indiscipline, and advised the students to abide by the rules and regulations guiding activities in the institution.
Also speaking, Prof Garba Babaji Member Bof oard of Trustees and Former Vice Chancellor Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi urged the students to prepare and shift their minds toward innovation that would make them viable in tociety.
“Embrace entrepreneurial skills to enable you to become an entrepreneur and job creator.
“Think within the box and obtain expertise skills and as well such knowledge were essentials for small and medium scale entrepreneurs.
“God has given each and everyone a talent and skills that use wisdom and develop it and focus your mind adequately you will achieve,” Prof Garba said.
The Registrar of the University Barrister Muslim Maigari said Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja, has begun the 2023/2024 session with 14 courses.
He said that Al-Muhibbah Open University was among the four private universities licensed recently by the National Universities Commission 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
Maigari assured the public and prospective students of smooth and hitch-free academic sessions,
“The management of Al-Muhibbah University had put all the needed human and material resources in place to ensure smooth academic activities on the main campus in Abuja and Bauchi.
Dr Jamila Dahiru Mohammed, State Commissioner of Education has commended the effort of the Founder and the Chancellor Hajiya Aisha Mohammed for her vision to establish the University.
She said the Institution would complement the state ggovernment’seffort oto bridgethe gap in ethe ducation sector in the state
The Commissioner assured the state government sof upport to provide an enabling environment to operate and provide knowledge to the citizens.
Meanwhile Dr Ibrahim Hassan who is the Director of the Al-Muhibbah Open University Bauchi Center urged the students to adhere to advice given to them and remain good ambassadors of the University.