SPECIAL RELEASE: Closure of the University

In line with the directive of the National University Commission (NUC) that all Tertiary Institutions be closed, in order to prevent spread of COVID-19, the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of Senate, has directed that the University be closed from Sunday, 22nd March, 2020 till further notice.

CLOSURE OF AL-HIKMAH UNIVERSITY IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING THREAT OF THE CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA

At an emergency meeting held on Friday 20th March, 2020, the University Senate deliberated extensively on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the trend of its current spread in Nigeria and directed that the University should close with effect from 23rd March, 2020. This aligns with the subsequent directive of the National Universities Commission in the same direction.
The closure of the University implies a prolongation of the session in the face of inadequate funding, and a
second jeopardy for the University, in addition to the challenges of preventing and anticipatory control of the Coronavirus disease.
Whereas, it would be the responsibility of Governments (Federal or State) to make financial provision for public universities for as long as the restrictions last, the story is not same for private universities. For private universities with school fees as our major source of revenue, prolongation of the session is a signal to serious financial calamity. In view of this, staff are to note that lectures shall continue online for students as long as the closure of the universities last.
Lecturers are mandated to create whatsapp platforms with their students for each of the courses they take and make their e-lecture notes and audio-recorded lectures by voice notes available to the students through the created whatsapp platforms. Lecturer-Students interactive sessions should also be provided via Zoom and Googlemate.
The University shall provide training for all academic and necessary support staff, in small groups for three days, starting from Monday, 23rd March, 2020 on how to convert lecture notes from word processing to pdf format, how to create group whatsapp platforms, how to upload pdf notes to whatsapp platform, how to record audio lectures on phones and upload on whatsapp, and how to use the zoom o googlemate digital facilities for lecturer-students interactive sessions.

On behalf of the BOT, the Council and Senate of the University, accept the very best wishes of the University, and may Allah ease our tasks in the prevailing circumstances and save us from the adversities of this time.

Professor M.T.O. Ibrahim
Vice-Chancellor