If you’ve come across the headline “Al-Istiqama University: 10 New Programmes Approved by NUC,” here’s something worth knowing before you rely on it: that specific announcement dates back to July 2023, when Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila (AUSU) in Kano State received National Universities Commission (NUC) approval for its first 10 degree programmes, tied to admissions for the 2023/2024 academic session.
A lot has happened at AUSU since then, and if you’re researching this university today, the “10 programmes” figure is significantly outdated.
This article gives you the accurate, up-to-date picture: what AUSU originally launched with, how its programme catalogue has grown since, and what NUC accreditation status actually means for prospective students.
Contents
The Original 2023 Approval: Where “10 New Programmes” Comes From
When Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila (AUSU) received its initial NUC approval in July 2023, the university was authorised to begin offering 10 degree programmes, including:
Admission into these programmes was based on candidates’ 2023 UTME (JAMB) results, and prospective students were advised to change their first-choice institution to AUSU on the JAMB portal to be considered.
At the time, this was genuinely significant news: it marked one of the earliest confirmations that AUSU, a newer private university, had regulatory approval to begin full academic operations.
What’s Happened Since: AUSU’s Rapid Programme Expansion
AUSU didn’t stop at 10 programmes.
The university has continued submitting new programmes for NUC review, and its catalogue has expanded substantially:
November 2025: 22 New Undergraduate Programmes Approved
In a release dated 5 November 2025, AUSU announced that the NUC had approved 22 additional undergraduate programmes, spanning a much broader academic range than the original 10.
These new programmes span faculties including:
- Arts, Social and Management Sciences
- Basic Medical Sciences
- Clinical Sciences
- Engineering and Environmental Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Law
- Science and Computing
This expansion reflects a much more mature institution than the one that launched in 2023.
AUSU now offers programmes across law, engineering, and clinical sciences, well beyond its original humanities-and-health-focused lineup.
Candidates who sat the 2025 UTME and met the required subject combinations were invited to apply directly or switch AUSU as their institution of choice on the JAMB portal.
April 2026: Full Accreditation for 11 Programmes
Perhaps the more consequential update: in April 2026, AUSU announced that the NUC had granted full accreditation to 11 of its academic programmes, following a comprehensive accreditation exercise carried out in November and December 2025.
This is a distinct and more rigorous milestone than initial “approval to operate”; full accreditation means the NUC formally assessed the programmes against its Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) framework, evaluating:
- Curriculum content
- Quality of academic staff
- Physical facilities
- Library resources
- Employers’ rating of graduates
The 11 fully accredited programmes span three faculties: the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Arts, Social and Management Sciences, and the Faculty of Science and Computing.
This distinction matters enormously for prospective students and their families, because full accreditation status affects everything from NYSC mobilisation eligibility to how employers and postgraduate institutions view a degree.
Why the Difference Between “Approval” and “Accreditation” Matters
A lot of confusion in Nigerian higher education news comes from these two terms being used loosely:
- NUC Approval to Operate/Run a Programme generally means a university has been cleared to admit students and begin teaching a new course, based on an initial resource verification.
- NUC Full Accreditation is a more thorough, later-stage review typically conducted after a programme has run for some time, confirming that it meets the Commission’s full academic and infrastructural standards on an ongoing basis.
A programme can be “approved” for years before it goes through a formal accreditation exercise.
When you see headlines about universities getting NUC approval for new programmes, that’s the start of the process, not the final word on quality assurance.
Full accreditation, like the one AUSU secured in April 2026, is the stronger signal.
What This Means If You’re Considering AUSU
If you’re a prospective student or parent researching Al-Istiqama University today, here’s the practical takeaway:
- The university has grown well beyond its original 10 programmes. As of the most recent updates, AUSU’s total approved programme count is well over 30 and spans multiple faculties.
- 11 of its programmes now carry full NUC accreditation, following the late-2025 accreditation exercise, a stronger quality signal than initial approval alone.
- Admissions criteria and cut-off marks vary by faculty, so it’s worth checking the specific programme’s requirements on AUSU’s official channels or the JAMB portal rather than relying on general information.
- Always verify current status directly through AUSU’s official website (ausu.edu.ng) or the NUC’s own portal (nuc.edu.ng), since accreditation exercises and new approvals continue to be added over time.
How to Check a Nigerian University’s Accreditation Status Yourself
Given how quickly this kind of information changes, it’s worth knowing how to verify it independently rather than relying on any single article, including this one:
- Visit the NUC’s official website and check its list of approved and accredited programmes by institution.
- Check the university’s official communications channels (website, verified social media) for dated accreditation announcements, ideally signed by the Vice-Chancellor or Registrar.
- Cross-reference with JAMB’s list of approved institutions and programmes for the current admission cycle, since JAMB syncs its own database with NUC-approved courses.
- Be cautious of articles that don’t specify when an approval or accreditation happened, as this AUSU story shows: “new programmes” news can be years old by the time it resurfaces.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Did Al-Istiqama University really get 10 new programmes approved?
No, that specific approval dates back to July 2023.
AUSU has since received approval for many more programmes, including 22 additional undergraduate programmes in November 2025.
2. How many programmes does AUSU currently offer?
Based on the most recent publicly available updates, AUSU’s approved programme catalogue has grown to well over 30 undergraduate programmes across multiple faculties.
However, prospective students should confirm the current exact number directly with the university or NUC.
3. What’s the difference between NUC “approval” and NUC “full accreditation”?
Approval typically permits a university to begin offering and admitting students into a new programme.
Full accreditation is a later, more rigorous review confirming the programme meets NUC’s ongoing academic and infrastructural standards.
AUSU secured this for 11 programmes in April 2026.
4. Which AUSU programmes have full NUC accreditation?
As of April 2026, 11 programmes across the Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Social and Management Sciences, and Faculty of Science and Computing hold full accreditation status.
5. Can I still apply to AUSU using an older UTME result?
Admission cycles are typically tied to a specific UTME year (for example, the November 2025 programme expansion was tied to 2025 UTME candidates).
Always check the current admission cycle’s requirements rather than assuming eligibility carries over from a previous year.
6. Is AUSU a private or public university?
AUSU is a private university located in Sumaila, Kano State, founded with a focus on health sciences, arts, and more recently expanded fields like engineering and law.
7. How do I change my JAMB first-choice institution to AUSU?
You can do this through the JAMB CAPS (Central Admissions Processing System) portal, where candidates can change their institution and course of choice during the designated correction window each admission cycle.
8. Where can I find the most current list of AUSU’s accredited programmes?
The most reliable sources are AUSU’s official website, official social media pages, and the NUC’s accreditation database, since programme approvals and accreditation status are updated periodically as new exercises are completed.
Final Thoughts
Al-Istiqama University has come a long way since its original 10-programme approval in 2023; it now offers a substantially broader range of programmes and has secured full NUC accreditation for 11 of them as of April 2026.
If you’re researching AUSU for admission purposes, treat any “10 programmes” headline as historical background rather than current status, and always verify the latest figures through AUSU’s official channels or the NUC directly before making admission decisions.
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