ABU, NAHCON sign MoU to launch MBA in Hajj Operations Management
Ahmadu Bello University Partners with NAHCON to Launch MBA in Hajj Operations Management
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to jointly develop a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Hajj Operations Management.
The agreement was formalized during a ceremony at Hajj House in Abuja on Friday, July 31, 2026. This partnership, facilitated through ABU’s Distance Learning Centre and NAHCON’s Hajj Institute of Nigeria, aims to enhance the planning, delivery, and ongoing improvement of hajj operations and management.
The scope of the collaboration includes developing a joint curriculum, conducting periodic reviews, and offering specialized courses related to hajj and umrah. Additionally, the partnership will encompass professional seminars, executive education, internship opportunities, research initiatives, and international collaboration.
Under the terms of the MOU, ABU will retain overall academic responsibility for the program, ensuring compliance with academic approvals and accreditations. The university will also be responsible for admitting qualified candidates, providing academic staff, administering examinations, and ultimately awarding the MBA degree in Hajj Operations Management.
NAHCON, through the Hajj Institute of Nigeria, will provide technical leadership in hajj and umrah operations, and will nominate qualified professionals as adjunct lecturers, subject to ABU’s approval. The commission will also facilitate practical training, field visits, and assist in arranging internship placements both domestically and internationally.
Both parties emphasize the importance of preserving and disseminating research outcomes from the program, while affirming that intellectual property and authorship rights will remain with the students and the university.
Professor Adamu Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of ABU, signed the MOU on behalf of the university, and Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, NAHCON Chairman, represented the commission.
The signing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Advancement, Research and Innovation, Professor Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi, and Registrar Rabiu Samaila. Other attendees included directors from various ABU departments and members of NAHCON management, including the Rector of the Hajj Institute, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare.
