Adeleke Commissions Minaret University, Reaffirms Osun’s Leadership in Education

By Adewale sukurat, osogbo

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday commissioned Minaret University, Ikirun, describing the institution as a testament to the state’s long-standing commitment to education and intellectual empowerment.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Adeleke said the establishment of the faith based university further strengthens Osun’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s foremost centres of learning and scholarship.

He noted that the unveiling of Minaret University sends a strong message about the intellectual capacity of the Osun people, stressing that an educated society cannot be subdued, coerced, or denied its constitutional rights.

“As one of the most literate states in the country, Osun continues to demonstrate that a well-educated population is empowered with knowledge and is stronger than those who rely on brute force,” the governor said.

Tracing the historical roots of educational advancement in the South-West, Adeleke recalled the vision of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who prioritised access to education as a tool for regional and national development.

He added that successive administrations, including that of the late Chief Bola Ige, expanded this legacy through free education policies that produced an enlightened and politically conscious citizenry.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the university’s mini-campus in Ikirun, was described as a historic three-in-one event, featuring the official opening of the university, the investiture of its pioneer Vice-Chancellor, and the launch of the institution’s maiden publication on global peace.

Speaking at the event, the Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Minaret University, Alhaji (Barr.) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, said the establishment of the university represents the fulfilment of a vision nurtured through faith, perseverance, and collective sacrifice.

According to him, the idea for Minaret University was conceived in 2013 following a resolution of the Majlis Shoora, the National Consultative Assembly of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, under the leadership of the then Amir, Professor Mashuud Adenrele Fashola. The proposal was subsequently presented to and approved by the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul-Masih

Azeez disclosed that after years of regulatory and administrative processes, the Federal Government formally granted the institution a licence to operate on April 30, 2025. The licence was handed over by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Minaret University is set to commence academic activities with programmes in Data Science, Information Technology, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, Marketing, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management. “The institution is supported by experienced academic and professional staff drawn from various disciplines”.

Azeez said Minaret University was established not merely as another tertiary institution, but as a citadel of learning anchored on knowledge, discipline, moral uprightness, and the promotion of global peace values for which the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is globally recognised.

The event attracted religious leaders, government officials, academics, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders, who described the inauguration as a significant addition to the educational and socio-economic development of Osun State.