Prof. Shinkafi brings over 20 years of academic and administrative experience to Tazkiyah University, pioneering higher education for Muslim women

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Tazkiyah University, Nigeria’s pioneering female-only higher institution, has appointed Professor (Mrs) Bilkisu Aminu Shinkafi as its substantive Vice Chancellor.

The appointment, approved by the university’s Board of Trustees, was announced in a statement released by the Office of the Proprietor on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

Prof. Shinkafi, a renowned academic from the Department of Zoology, University of Abuja, assumes office with immediate effect for a five-year tenure.

PEACE Magazine learned that Prof. Shinkafi brings to the role over two decades of experience in academia, research, and university administration.

Her previous roles include Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Member of the Governing Council at the Federal University, Gusau.

She currently serves as a presidential appointee on the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau.

Prof. Shinkafi is also affiliated with several professional bodies including the Science Association of Nigeria, the Fisheries Society of Nigeria, and the Association of African Universities.

The university community has congratulated her on the appointment and expressed optimism that her leadership will drive the institution toward academic excellence and innovation tailored to empowering Muslim women.

Brief About Tazkiyah University

Tazkiyah University is a groundbreaking female-only institution founded by Professor Ibrahim Maqari, one of the Imams of the National Mosque, Abuja.

Located in Zaria, Kaduna State, it is Nigeria’s first university exclusively for women and is expected to operate with an all-female academic staff.

The institution is designed to offer a safe, value-driven environment where Muslim girls can pursue higher education without compromise.

According to Prof. Maqari, profits from the university will be channelled into a fund for supporting orphans, reinforcing its commitment to social impact.

Tazkiyah University will kick off academic activities with three faculties: Allied Health Sciences, Science and Computing, and Management and Social Sciences. Some of the key programmes include Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Accounting, Economics, and Business Administration.

The institution also has long-term plans to move to a permanent campus in Kaduna city. Its mission is to remove barriers to female education by providing quality academic training within an Islamic moral framework.