A former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Yahuza Bello, has been appointed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Al-Muhibbah Open University.

The Registrar of the varsity, Barr. Muslim Maigari, on Wednesday, said that Bello’s appointment was officially announced during a joint sitting of the university’s Board of Trustees and Governing Council, held on Sunday at the Council Chamber in Abuja, where the institution’s progress was reviewed two years into its operation.

The Chancellor of the University, Dr. Aisha Bala Mohammed, lauded the management for completing two uninterrupted academic sessions, describing it as a remarkable milestone for the young institution.

She urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity offered by the university’s innovative open and distance learning programmes to acquire employable skills and compete effectively in today’s job market.

Dr. Aisha further emphasised the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in addressing challenges such as poverty, youth unemployment, and gender inequality, urging the government to adopt policies that promote private sector involvement and support girl-child education.

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Bello expressed gratitude for the appointment and pledged to work closely with the university management to achieve its strategic growth agenda.

He encouraged youths and marginalised communities to embrace digital learning, stressing its potential to transform education and improve access nationwide.

Prof. Bello also declared the 2025/2026 admission process open, assuring prospective students of the institution’s dedication to quality, innovation, and integrity.

He appealed to the Federal Government to engage in genuine dialogue to resolve the recurring labour and industrial crises in the education sector.

Other notable attendees at the council meeting included Prof. Garba Aliyu Babaji, Surv. Ibrahim Saidu Jahun (Galadiman Bauchi), Prof. Ibrahim Maqari, and Engr. Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, among others.