KHAIRUN to commence law, medicine programs, expands academic offerings for 2025

By Abdullateef Abubakar Jos On Feb 18, 2025

KHAIRUN, law, medicine programs, Rashid Garba, MM Borodo, — KHAIRUN VC, Prof. Rashid Garba

Khalifa Isyaka Rabi’u University (KHAIRUN)in Kano is broadening its academic scope with the introduction of new courses and faculties in 2025, aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for students.

In an exclusive interview with SolaceBase, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rashid Garba, discussed the university’s latest developments, including the newly established Faculty of Law and plans to launch a Faculty of Medicine.

The newly introduced programs in Law and Medicine have highlighted KHAIRUN’s commitment to expanding academic opportunities and addressing societal needs.

SolaceBase: Thank you very much, VC, for having us this afternoon. Looking back at 2024, how would you describe the university’s journey so far?

Prof. Rashid Garba: In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. I would describe 2024 as our formative year. That was when we fully set up the university’s academic and administrative structures. We established 16 departments across four faculties and inaugurated the University Senate. Most importantly, we commenced lectures and academic activities in full.

We made sure to recruit world-class professors to provide the best education for our students. We started with 10 seasoned professors, some of whom now serve as deans of various faculties. Towards the end of the year, we also established the Faculty of Law and appointed a distinguished professor as its pioneer dean.

Beyond these administrative structures, we celebrated every milestone. Being the first of its kind, everything we did was historic—from appointing the first lecturers to conducting the first lectures. We even invited a former governor and minister to mark our first lecture as a significant event.

SolaceBase: One of the key things you emphasized last year was what makes KHAIRUN different. Can you tell us more about that?

Prof. Rashid Garba: Yes, university education has evolved. It is no longer just about attending lectures, writing exams, and graduating with distinctions. A university must prepare students with life skills to ensure they can contribute to society after graduation.

One of the major things that set us apart is our strong emphasis on entrepreneurship. We made entrepreneurship a core part of our curriculum at three levels—starting from the first year, followed by compulsory courses at the 200 and 300 levels, and a final-year entrepreneurship course that requires students to spend 90% of their time outside the university, engaging with industries.

Additionally, we integrated entrepreneurship within individual disciplines. A nursing student, for example, must undertake entrepreneurship in nursing, while an engineering student must study entrepreneurship within their field. These three levels of entrepreneurship are unique to our university.

Secondly, we ensure that students engage in Quranic recitation and memorization, regardless of their academic discipline. This is in honor of our founder, the late Khalifa Isyaka Rabi’u, who dedicated his life to propagating Islam. However, for non-Muslim students, we provide an alternative course to accommodate their faith.

Another unique aspect of our university is the emphasis on moral education. We have compulsory courses in morality and ethics across four semesters, focusing on personal relationships—with God, parents, spouses, and society. Without good character, education is meaningless. These are the three key areas where our university stands out.

SolaceBase: Apart from academic excellence, it seems morality is a major focus at Khairun. How does this shape your plans for 2025?

Prof. Rashid Garba: Absolutely. 2025 is what I call our “year of consolidation.” We have built a strong foundation, and now, we are strengthening our achievements.

To maintain high moral standards, we have introduced a structured hostel system with strict regulations. The hostel operates like a boarding school, with set times for lights out, exit restrictions, and controlled visitation policies. This helps us uphold discipline and character development among students.

We have also tied our university’s scholarship program to good conduct. Even if a student has a perfect CGPA of 5.00, they must be certified as having good character by student affairs and lecturers before they qualify for a university-funded scholarship. This is to reinforce the idea that academic excellence must go hand in hand with moral uprightness.

SolaceBase: You also mentioned entrepreneurship as a major focus. How do you plan to enhance that in 2025?

Prof. Rashid Garba: We have established KHAIRUN Consultancy Services to strengthen our entrepreneurship drive. This unit facilitates collaborations between students and industries. We invite business leaders, like representatives from Dala Foods, to mentor our students on venture creation and business sustainability.

In 2025, we are expanding these partnerships and ensuring that students not only learn entrepreneurship theoretically but also gain hands-on experience in running businesses before they graduate.

SolaceBase: Another major development is the Faculty of Law. When do you expect it to become operational?

Prof. Rashid Garba: We are optimistic that the Faculty of Law will commence in 2025. We have already appointed a seasoned professor as the pioneer dean, and we are working to meet the requirements of the Council for Legal Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Additionally, we are making significant progress in launching the Faculty of Medicine. This is a major undertaking because establishing an MBBS program is almost like setting up an entirely new university. It involves creating multiple departments and colleges. Professor M.M. Borodo and his team are leading this process, and with proper support from the university’s proprietor, we hope to get the MBBS program running soon.

SolaceBase: You also mentioned plans to improve the university’s relationship with the host community. What initiatives are in place for this?

Prof. Rashid Garba: Strengthening our relationship with the host community is a priority for us in 2025. We want to enhance our corporate social responsibility by working closely with local leaders and organizations.

Through our Town and Gown initiative, we will create more opportunities for community engagement and knowledge sharing. We have been planning this throughout 2024, and in 2025, we will begin implementing it fully. We believe that universities should not be isolated from society but should actively contribute to their surrounding communities.

SolaceBase: You previously mentioned Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaka Rabi’u. What role does he play in the university?

Prof. Rashid Garba: Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaka Rabi’u is the eldest son of the late Khalifa Isyaka Rabi’u and the sole financier of the university. His contributions have been instrumental in making education affordable for students.

When we initially determined the tuition fees using professional criteria, the fees were quite high. However, Alhaji Abdulsamad granted a waiver of ₦500,000 to all incoming students. This has been in place since last year and will continue until the first set graduates. As a result, our university now has some of the lowest tuition fees in the Northwest for specialized courses like engineering, medical sciences, and computing.

In addition to this, he launched a scholarship program for 500 students. As of today, 460 students are already benefitting from this scheme, covering their tuition, accommodation, and other academic expenses. His generosity ensures that many young Nigerians can access quality education without financial hardship.

SolaceBase: With all these ambitious plans, what mechanisms have you put in place to ensure their success?

Prof. Rashid Garba: Our strategy is based on four principles:

1. Faith and Hard Work – We pray, but we also work tirelessly.

2. Delegation and Supervision – We entrust responsibilities to capable hands while ensuring strict supervision.

3. Accountability – Every officer is responsible for their duties and is given the freedom to be innovative.

4. Reward and Discipline – We use a balanced approach of incentives and corrective measures to ensure efficiency.

With more experienced hands joining our team and an expanded management structure, I am confident that 2025 will be another year of remarkable progress for Khairun.