Skyline University Announces 50% Scholarships for Top Students, Introduces 3 New Courses

Skyline University Nigeria, Kano State, has offered 50 per cent scholarships to its top graduating students to encourage them to pursue postgraduate studies at the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ajith Kumar, disclosed this on Monday in Kano during a press briefing ahead of the university’s fifth convocation ceremony scheduled for November 14, 2026.

He said the scholarships were awarded to graduating students who emerged as toppers, adding that the initiative was part of the institution’s efforts to encourage academic excellence and support further studies.

“The university has awarded 50 per cent scholarships to all graduating students who emerged as toppers to enable them to pursue postgraduate programmes at the institution,” Kumar said.

Kumar also announced that the National Universities Commission had approved three new programmes for the university: Bachelor of Science degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Islamic Economics and Finance, and Public Health Science.

The institution also unveiled what it described as Africa’s first HP Gaming Garage, a facility designed to expose students to emerging areas such as game development, artificial intelligence, design thinking and digital innovation.

“The gaming facility will expose students to emerging areas such as game development, artificial intelligence, design thinking and digital innovation, preparing them for opportunities in the global technology industry,” he said.

At the forthcoming convocation, Kumar said 236 graduands were expected to receive various academic awards and degrees.

He said the graduating class comprised 183 bachelor’s degree holders, 41 higher-degree graduates and 12 doctorate-degree graduates from the School of Postgraduate Studies.

“30 of the bachelor’s degree graduands earned First Class Honours, 89 obtained Second Class Upper Division, while 64 graduated with Second Class Lower Division,” he said.

He added that the university would confer doctorate degrees for the first time at the ceremony.

On international partnerships, the vice-chancellor said the university had signed memoranda of understanding with IMS Unison University and Sikkim Sardar Patel University in India, as well as the RV Institute of Management.

He added that 10 per cent of the university’s curriculum would be delivered by industry experts to expose students to professional practices and improve their readiness for the labour market.

On research, Kumar said two members of the academic staff, Dr Musa Innocent and Abdulsallam Mustapha, were recognised among Nigeria’s top researchers in the 2026 rankings.

He said the institution organised several student development programmes during the 2025/2026 academic session, including its CEO Lecture Series, career fair, TEDx event, CV clinic sessions and professional development activities.

“More than 43 organisations participated in the university’s second career fair, with some offering pre-employment placements to outstanding students,” he added.

Kumar also disclosed that the university trained 1,189 Nigerian youths under two cohorts of the World Bank’s Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills project.

He said the beneficiaries received training in information and communication technology, Microsoft Office, web design, desktop publishing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, machine learning and programming.

He added that the institution also empowered 100 women through training in artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship as part of its community development efforts.

“The institution will continue to expand its academic programmes, strengthen international partnerships, promote research and embrace emerging technologies to improve teaching and learning,” Kumar said.