The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have entered into a strategic partnership to establish a Master of Business Administration in Hajj Operations Management (MBA-HOM), a first-of-its-kind postgraduate programme designed to enhance professionalism in hajj administration and management.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ABU’s Distance Learning Centre and the NAHCON Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) during a ceremony held at the Hajj House in Abuja on Friday.
The initiative is aimed at building a strong academic and professional framework for hajj operations by promoting quality education, research, innovation and capacity development for stakeholders in the sector.
Under the agreement, both institutions will jointly develop and periodically review the programme’s curriculum, organise specialised training in hajj and umrah management, conduct professional seminars and executive courses, facilitate internship and field attachment opportunities, undertake collaborative research, and strengthen engagement with industry players and international partners.
As part of its responsibilities, Ahmadu Bello University will oversee the academic administration of the programme. The university will obtain the required regulatory approvals and accreditation, admit qualified candidates, provide lecturers for management-related courses, conduct examinations, approve results, and award successful students the MBA in Hajj Operations Management degree. It will also ensure effective learner support and maintain its established quality assurance standards.
NAHCON, through the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, will provide technical expertise in hajj and umrah operations.
The commission will also nominate experienced industry professionals as adjunct lecturers and resource persons, facilitate practical training and field visits, and assist students in securing internship placements within Nigeria and abroad.
The MoU further provides for joint ownership and dissemination of research outputs while protecting the intellectual property rights and authorship of students and the university.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Ahmadu Bello University by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adamu Ahmed, while the Chairman of NAHCON, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, signed for the commission.
Among those present at the signing ceremony were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Advancement, Research and Innovation), Professor Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi; Registrar, Rabiu Samaila; Director of the Distance Learning Centre, Professor M. B. Mu’azu; Director of the CBN Centre for Economics and Finance, Professor Auwal Haruna; Director of Public Affairs, Auwalu Umar; Assistant Director (Advancement), Dr. Ahmed Zakariyya; and Principal Technical Officer (Photography), Tajuddeen Kamaluddeen Usman.
The Rector of the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, and other senior officials of NAHCON also attended the event, which both institutions described as a major step towards improving professional competence, operational efficiency and academic excellence in Nigeria’s hajj management sector.
(Jauri TV)