Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the joint development and delivery of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Hajj Operations Management (MBA-HOM) degree programme.
The MOU, facilitated through the ABU Distance Learning Centre and the NAHCON Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN), was signed at a brief ceremony held at Hajj House in Abuja on Friday, July 31, 2026.
The partnership is aimed primarily at establishing a framework for collaboration in the planning, delivery, and continuous improvement of hajj operations and management.
The scope of the partnership includes joint curriculum development and periodic reviews, delivery of specialised hajj and umrah courses, professional seminars and executive education, internship and field attachment opportunities, research and innovation, as well as industry engagement and international collaboration.
Under the agreement, ABU, through its Distance Learning Centre, will exercise overall academic responsibility for the programme. The university will also be responsible for obtaining and maintaining all academic approvals and accreditations.
ABU will admit qualified candidates in accordance with university regulations and provide academic staff for management and related courses. It will also conduct examinations, oversee moderation, approve results, and award the MBA Hajj Operations Management degree.
The university is further expected to provide academic administration and learner support while ensuring compliance with its quality assurance standards.
On its part, NAHCON, through the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, will provide technical leadership on hajj and umrah operations, among other responsibilities.
The commission will nominate qualified practitioners as adjunct lecturers and resource persons, subject to ABU’s requirements. It will also facilitate practical training and field visits, as well as assist in identifying and arranging internship placements within Nigeria and internationally.
According to the MOU, both parties recognise the importance of preserving and disseminating research outputs arising from the programme.
They also agreed that nothing in the agreement shall prejudice the ownership of intellectual property or authorship rights vested in students and the university.
The Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof Adamu Ahmed, signed the MOU on behalf of the university, while the NAHCON Chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, signed on behalf of the commission.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, Prof Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi, and the Registrar, Rabiu Samaila.
Others present included the Director, Distance Learning Centre, Prof M B Mu’azu; Director, CBN Centre for Economics and Finance, Prof Auwal Haruna; Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Auwalu Umar; Assistant Director, Advancement, Dr Ahmed Zakariyya; and Principal Technical Officer (Photography), Tajuddeen Kamaluddeen Usman.
The Rector of the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, and several NAHCON management staff also witnessed the historic event.
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