Al-Qalam University

Name

Al-Qalam University

Legal name

Al-Qalam University Katsina

Website

https://auk.edu.ng

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic Colleges & Sharia/Fiqh Institutes (EDAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Islamic university programs
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Postgraduate academic studies
• Remedial pre-degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Katsina

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Registration Fees (Undergraduate): Primary recurring revenue stream from undergraduate students across full-time and part-time programmes; fees vary by department, with approved reductions (50% for B.Sc. Mathematics and Physics; 40% for B.A. Arabic, Hausa and Islamic Studies effective 2021/2022).
2. Postgraduate Tuition Fees (PGD, Masters, PhD, MBA): Recurring revenue from postgraduate programmes; per-college fee structure ranging from N312,000 to N676,000 for Masters/PhD and N260,000 for Postgraduate Diplomas, plus a compulsory N10,000 development levy.
3. Pre-Degree and IJMB Programme Fees: Application form fee of N5,300 plus registration fee of N119,000–N171,000 (sciences) or N99,300–N145,000 (Arts/SMS) for the one-year Pre-Degree and IJMB programmes managed by the School of Basic and Remedial Studies.
4. Penalty and Ancillary Fees: Late registration attracts a N50,000 penalty; other ancillary charges include development levies and miscellaneous administrative fees.
5. Community (Ummah) Donations and Sponsor Contributions: As a not-for-profit university that does not receive government subventions, revenue is supplemented by community contributions (e.g., Parents and Stakeholders Forum has spent over N500 million on campus infrastructure including the 264-bed female hostel built at N164 million).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Al-Qalam University Katsina is a non-profit Islamic university that delivers tertiary education and research through six colleges (Computing & Information Science, Natural & Applied Sciences, Humanities, Education, Social & Management Sciences, and Allied Health Sciences), a School of Postgraduate Studies, and a School of Basic and Remedial Studies. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, plus IJMB and Pre-Degree preparatory programmes, integrated with an Islamic moral framework and supported by an in-house Student Information System.

Product overview

Al-Qalam University Katsina is a non-profit Islamic university in Nigeria, established in 2005, that delivers its academic offering as a single unified educational institution organized into six colleges — the College of Computing and Information Science (CIS), College of Allied Health Science, College of Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS), College of Education (EDU), College of Humanities (HUM) and College of Social and Management Sciences (SMS) — supported by the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS), the Directorate of Basic and Remedial Studies (SBRS) (which delivers the IJMB and Pre-Degree programmes) and the Institute of Semi-Arid Zone Studies (ISAZS). Cross-cutting technology and student-facing services are delivered through the Muhammadu Sanusi II ICT Directorate and the Students Information System (SIS) Portal, while the Directorate of Research, Innovation, and Development and the Directorate of Academic Planning coordinate institutional research and NUC programme approvals. The University publishes the ALSUN Journal and the Al-Qalam Journal of Sociology and Anthropological Studies, and communicates internally through the AUK E-Bulletin series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS): Organ of the University charged with promoting, supervising, coordinating and regulating postgraduate studies, established in 2015.
• Institute of Semi-Arid Zone Studies (ISAZS)

Products and services

• B.Sc. Computer Science Four-year undergraduate degree under the College of Computing and Information Sciences (CIS), focused on theoretical foundations of information and communications and practical implementation in computer systems. Aimed at prospective UTME and Direct Entry students.
• B.Sc. Software Engineering Four-year undergraduate degree under the Department of Software Engineering and Cyber Security, training students to develop and maintain quality software systems of scale for organizations and businesses. NUC full accreditation received in 2022.
• B.Sc. Cyber Security Undergraduate programme under the College of Computing and Information Sciences, focused on cybersecurity discipline and practice.
• B.Sc. Information Technology Undergraduate programme under the College of Computing and Information Sciences, focused on IT systems and infrastructure.
• B.Sc. Accounting Four-year undergraduate degree under the Department of Accounting in the College of Social and Management Sciences, with streams for MBF, M.Sc. and Ph.D. accounting.
• B.Sc. Business Administration Four-year undergraduate programme under the College of Social and Management Sciences offering training in business management integrated with sound Islamic values.
• B.Sc. Economics Four-year full-time (or six-year part-time) undergraduate programme emphasising IT-based teaching and quantitative economic analysis aligned with Islamic culture.
• B.Sc. Political Science Four-year undergraduate degree exposing students to political processes, government intricacies, socio-political institutions and public affairs. NUC full accreditation received in 2022.
• B.Sc. Sociology Four-year undergraduate programme training students in sociological reasoning, analytical tools and manpower development. Includes a Diploma in Crime & Security Management stream. NUC full accreditation received in 2022.
• B.Sc. Biology / Microbiology / Biochemistry Life-sciences undergraduate programmes under the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. NUC full accreditation received in 2022 for Microbiology and Biochemistry.
• B.Sc. Mathematics / Physics / Chemistry / Statistics Physical-science undergraduate programmes under the College of Natural and Applied Sciences. NUC full accreditation received in 2022 for Mathematics. Physics and Mathematics carry a 50% approved tuition reduction.
• B.Sc. Science Laboratory Technology Undergraduate programme under the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, providing instruction in scientific theories, experimentation and hands-on technology application. NUC full accreditation received in 2022.
• B.A. Arabic Four-year undergraduate degree under the College of Humanities (African Languages Department), covering Arabic language, literature and Islamic civilization. Carries a 40% approved tuition reduction effective 2021/2022.
• B.A. English Four-year undergraduate programme under the Department of English, providing sound background in effective mastery of English language and literature. NUC full accreditation received in 2022 for B.Ed. English.
• B.A. Hausa Four-year undergraduate degree under the African Languages Department of the College of Humanities. Carries a 40% approved tuition reduction effective 2021/2022.
• B.A. Islamic Studies Four-year undergraduate programme under the Department of Islamic Studies offering B.A, M.A and PhD in Islamic Sciences. Started since the University's inception in 2005/2006. Carries a 40% approved tuition reduction effective 2021/2022.
• B.A. (Ed) and B.Sc. (Ed) Education Programmes Ten undergraduate and postgraduate teacher-education programmes under the College of Education, including B.A. (Ed) Arabic, English, Hausa, Islamic Studies and B.Sc. (Ed) Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics. NUC full accreditation received in 2022 for B.Ed. Arabic, English and Hausa.
• Allied Health Science Programmes (Nursing, Radiography, Human Nutrition, Physiotherapy, Public Health) Allied Health Science undergraduate degree programmes under the College of Allied Health Science, including B. NSc. Nursing Science, B. Rad Radiography, B.Sc. Human Nutrition and Dietetics, D. Pt. Physiotherapy, and B.Sc. Public Health. Designed to be delivered using clinical training sites at three Katsina State-owned hospitals under a draft MoU.
• School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS) Postgraduate division established in 2015 offering PGD, M.A., M.Sc., MBA, M.Ed., MPhil/PhD, PhD and professional master's programmes across the university's colleges. Per-college tuition fee structure ranges from N260,000 for PGD to N312,000-N676,000 for Masters/PhD plus a compulsory N10,000 development levy.
• Pre-Degree Programme One-year programme preparing students to sit for JAMB and the AUK qualifying examination for admission into 100 level of Al-Qalam University. Application form fee N5,300; registration fee N119,000 (sciences) or N99,300 (Arts/SMS).
• IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board) Programme One-year advanced level programme enabling students to qualify for Direct Entry (200 Level) admission into Nigerian universities. Covers Sciences, SMS and Humanities subjects. Application form fee N5,300; registration fee N171,000 (sciences) or N145,000 (Arts/SMS).
• Institute of Semi-Arid Zone Studies (ISAZS) First research institute at Al-Qalam University, established in 2020 under pioneer Director Dr. Mansir Abubakar. Conducts basic and applied science research on sustainable farming systems, livestock-based farming, range management and Islamic healthcare in the Semi-Arid Zones of Nigeria, in collaboration with ICRISAT, Islamic Health Foundation, IAR Samaru, NIPCR Abuja and CBN Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, Kano.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000+ students enrolled across 6 colleges
• +5 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship — proprietor and ownership body of the university, core — required to launch the college of allied health sciences, core — flagship research collaborator, minor — emerging research collaboration, minor — collaboration in progress, minor — student competition platform, minor — academic pipeline and staff linkages and minor — peer institution (honorary degree to auk pro-chancellor).

• Katsina Islamic Foundation (KIF)flagship — proprietor and ownership body of the universityStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIF is the registered proprietor of Al-Qalam University Katsina with twelve members chaired by Alhaji Bilya Sanda (Khadimul-Islam). It owns the university on behalf of the Muslim Community (Ummah) and holds responsibility for endorsing key leadership appointments such as the Vice-Chancellor. KIF also contributes financially (e.g., N10,000 cash awards at the 2022 Staff Merit Award ceremony).
• Katsina State Ministry of Healthcore — required to launch the college of allied health sciencesStrategic or Co-development PartnerDraft MoU presented by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nasiru Musa Yauri to Commissioner of Health Engr. Yakubu Shehu Danja on 22 November 2022 to enable students of the proposed College of Allied Health Sciences to undergo supervised clinical training at three state-owned hospitals: General Hospital Katsina, General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital Katsina, and Turai Yar'adua Maternal and Children Hospital Katsina. Partnership is critical to securing NUC and professional-body approval.
• International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)core — flagship research collaboratorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partner with the Institute of Semi-Arid Zone Studies (ISAZS). A Pearl millet trial conducted in the 2020 production season was ranked among the top five in Nigeria; a second phase continued in 2021. Focus on sustainable farming systems, livestock-based farming and range management.
• Islamic Health Foundationminor — emerging research collaborationStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a research collaboration partner for ISAZS alongside ICRISAT, supporting Islamic healthcare research and related semi-arid-zone livelihood studies.
• Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaruminor — collaboration in progressStrategic or Co-development PartnerProcess of collaboration with ISAZS on semi-arid agricultural research; specific activities not yet formalised as of source publication.
• National Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (NIPCR), Abujaminor — collaboration in progressStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdentified as a collaboration partner for ISAZS; process of formalising partnership underway, focused on peace and conflict research relevant to semi-arid regions.
• Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, Kanominor — collaboration in progressStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdentified collaboration partner for ISAZS in entrepreneurship research, alongside other domestic and international development agencies.
• Nigeria Association of Computing Students (NACOS) with Financial Services Innovators and Central Bank of Nigeriaminor — student competition platformGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organisers (with Financial Services Innovators and CBN) of the National Innovative Competition hosted by Chrisland University, Ogun State (15–19 August 2022). The competition showcases ICT talent and innovation in sectors like health, transport, energy, agriculture, trade and finance. Al-Qalam's student team placed 4th out of 74 teams with the Dono Health mobile app.
• Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokotominor — academic pipeline and staff linkagesStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong academic linkage: VC Prof. Nasiru Musa Yauri served 25 years as a lecturer at UDUS and was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) before being appointed AUK Vice-Chancellor. Several senior AUK staff (including the Registrar) joined from UDUS. NAPSS competition hosted there in 2019/2020.
• Federal University Lokojaminor — peer institution (honorary degree to auk pro-chancellor)OthersConferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Political Science Honoris Causa on Sani Zangon Daura (Pro-Chancellor of AUK) on 14 November 2021; received on his behalf by VC Prof. Nasiru Musa Yauri. Indicates formal recognition between peer Nigerian federal universities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Islamic University in Uganda: Faith-based Islamic university in East Africa, established to provide Islamic higher education — the closest international direct peer to AUK's mission and Islamic-community-ownership model, although operating in a different country and regulatory regime.
• Fountain University, Osogbo: Nigerian private Islamic university owned by the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT). Closest direct domestic peer to AUK — same faith-based, private, community-owned model, similar tuition positioning and multi-disciplinary programme mix.

Regional players

• Bayero University Kano: Public federal university in Kano, Northern Nigeria, offering broad multi-disciplinary programmes across sciences, humanities and social sciences. Comparable to AUK on regional student market, programme breadth, and Islamic-affiliated student base.
• Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto: Public federal university in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria, with strong Islamic and humanities programmes. Direct regional comparable to AUK by geography, student demographic and academic scope; several AUK senior staff (including the current Registrar) joined from UDUS, evidencing direct operational overlap.
• Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University (UMYU) Katsina: Public state university also located in Katsina city, sharing the same local student catchment and competing for faculty. Most direct local geographic peer; AUK's University Librarian previously served at UMYU.

Broad incumbents

• International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM): Large, established Islamic university with multi-campus delivery across Malaysia. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the Islamic higher-education category — same faith-based identity and integration of Islamic values with secular curricula, but at materially greater scale.
• Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria: Largest federal university in Northern Nigeria, offering broad multi-disciplinary programmes including strong Islamic studies and sciences. Comparable at the level of student demographic, programme breadth and Northern Nigerian academic positioning, though it is a large public incumbent.

Emerging players

• Crescent University, Abeokuta: Private Nigerian university founded by the Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA). Comparable to AUK on Islamic faith-based governance, private non-profit structure, and a similar multi-disciplinary undergraduate/postgraduate portfolio.
• Redeemer's University, Ede: Nigerian faith-based (Christian mission) private non-profit university with comparable multi-disciplinary programme portfolio and tuition-positioning strategy. Useful comparable for AUK's faith-aligned non-profit private university model, despite differing religious affiliation.
• Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila: Newer private Islamic university in Kano State, Northern Nigeria. Emerging direct peer — shares AUK's Islamic higher-education mission and Northern Nigerian student demographic, but at smaller and earlier-stage scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/alqalamist

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Al-Qalam University