Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno

Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri (AUM) is a private university in Maiduguri, Borno State, in north-east Nigeria. It is owned by the Al-Ansar Foundation, whose founder and president is Dr. Mohammed Kyari Dikwa, and it describes itself as the first private university in the Kanem-Borno area. Its stated mission is to produce competitive, socially responsible and goal-oriented graduates who serve Nigeria and the wider world, guided by the moral teachings of the Holy Books on the duty to seek knowledge. Its vision is to be a world-class academic institution where faith, innovation and service are nurtured for the advancement of human development.

Academic activities began in the 2022/2023 session with three colleges and 22 undergraduate programmes. By 2024 the university had four colleges and 29 programmes. Classes started on 15 February 2023, and the maiden matriculation ceremony was held on 1 June 2023 at the take-off site on Baga Road, Maiduguri. A permanent site in Maiduguri is being developed, including orchard and shelter-belt plantings.

The four colleges are:

• College of Arts, Management and Social Sciences: Arabic, Islamic Studies, Accounting, Economics, English Language and Literary Studies, Human Resource Management, Entrepreneurship, Procurement Management, Mass Communication, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, and Criminology and Security Studies.
• College of Medicine and Health Sciences: MBBS Medicine and Surgery, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing Science and Public Health.
• College of Science, Information and Communication Technology: Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Petroleum Chemistry, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Data Science, Information Technology, Industrial Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics with Electronics and Software Engineering.
• College of Law: LL.B, for which the Council of Legal Education approved commencement in October 2025 with an initial quota of 50 students at 100 Level.

The university has received a Full Operational Licence from the National Universities Commission (NUC), issued on 14 August 2025 after a three-year provisional licence period and an NUC assessment visit on 22 to 24 April 2025. The Council of Legal Education approved the LL.B programme after a facilities verification by the Nigerian Law School Board of Studies. Professor Abubakar Musa Kundiri was the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Fanna Inna Abdulrahman was appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor in October 2025.

The university has explored collaboration with Indian Integral University (joint research, and faculty and student exchange) and runs an online student portal for applications.