Nigeria Approves First Female-Only University, Tazkiyah

Nigeria has made history with the approval of its first female-only university, Tazkiyah University, as the National Universities Commission (NUC) granted operating licences to nine new private institutions.

The landmark approval highlights not only a breakthrough for women’s education in the country but also the vision of the man behind the initiative — Sheikh Professor Ibrahim Ahmad Maqari, Deputy Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, and one of Nigeria’s most respected Islamic scholars.

Tazkiyah University, located in Zaria, Kaduna State, is designed exclusively for female students and is projected to employ an all-female faculty — a first in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. According to Prof. Maqari, the project is both an academic venture and a moral responsibility.

“This is a trust from Allah and an amanah (sacred responsibility). The dream is to give women a platform for empowerment through knowledge, and to secure a future for children who have no parents to provide for them,” he said.

Profits generated by the institution, he added, will be channelled into a trust fund to support orphans across Nigeria.

Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who announced the approval in Abuja, listed Tazkiyah University among the newly licensed institutions alongside Leadership University, Abuja; Jimoh Babalola University, Kwara State; Bridget University, Imo State; Greenland University, Taraba State; JEFAP University, Niger State; Azione Verde University, Imo State; Unique Open University, Lagos State; and American Open University, Ogun State.

Although its permanent site is planned for Kaduna metropolis, Tazkiyah University will take off in Zaria before relocating fully.

Born on September 15, 1976, in Katsina State, Prof. Maqari’s academic journey began at Jama’atu College of Arabic Studies, Zaria, before he proceeded to the globally renowned Al-Azhar University, Cairo, where he graduated in 1999. He went on to earn a Master’s degree at Ahmadu Bello University (2005) and a PhD at Bayero University, Kano (2007–2009), completing it in record time.

Over the years, he has combined academic pursuits with religious leadership. He taught at Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna State University, and Bayero University, Kano, where he is currently a professor of Arabic and Linguistics. In 2012, he was appointed Deputy Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja.

His commitment extends beyond teaching. Through the Tazkiyyah Educational Resource Center, Abuja, he oversees more than 30 Qur’anic and Islamiyya schools across Nigeria. He also plays active roles in the Assembly of Muslims in Nigeria, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and international academic bodies.

Prof. Maqari has authored more than 20 academic papers, published several books, and frequently presents at conferences worldwide. Despite his prominence, he is described as humble, disciplined, and deeply committed to uplifting the less privileged.

Education experts see the establishment of Tazkiyah University as a bold and transformative step.

“An all-female university in Nigeria is not just symbolic; it is revolutionary,” said Dr. Amina Lawal, a Kaduna-based education consultant. “It shows that faith, culture, and modern education can be woven together to uplift women.”