Arabic and Islamic Training Centre (Markaz) Agege , Lagos

• Diploma in Arabic and Islamic Studies
• Bachelor Degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies

Contact e-mail: rifaeenbay914tr@gmail.com  Tel: +234 803 553 1076 ; +234 806 943 1374

Markaz University College is a product of Arabic & Islamic Training Centre, Agege, popularly known as Markaz. The institution was initially established by that great, erudite and legendary scholar, His Eminence, Sheikh Adam Abdullah El-Ilory, at Abeokuta in 1952 or thereabout and relocated to Agege, where it is today in 1955. From the various accounts presented by eminent scholars and writers of international repute, the establishment of the institution was motivated by the strong desire not only to do things differently, but also to introduce an innovative approach to the archaic method of teaching Arabic & Islamic Studies that was in vogue then.

According to Prof. R.D. Abubakre (2012), His Eminence Sheikh Adam Abdullah El-Ilory (may Allah be pleased with him) liberated the study and learning of Arabic and Islamic Studies from retrogressive methods of teaching and learning the subjects. His progressive innovations centred on introduction of school syllabus; a clearly defined duration of courses;  pedagogy and modern classroom management. Undoubtedly, the results and impacts of the innovations on the teaching and learning of Arabic and Islamic Studies throughout Nigeria and beyond have been tremendous as they won approval, home and abroad.

With the demise of the Sheikh in May, 1992, the mantle of leadership of Markaz fell on the shoulders of Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Abdullah El-Ilory. The energetic, charismatic and irrepressible successor of the late scholar has successfully kept the flag of Markaz flying to the pride and delight of all the stakeholders. In order to further strengthen the legacy of his predecessor, and provide more students of Arabic and Islamic Studies with an equal opportunity to compete favourably with their western-oriented counterparts in the labour market, he reorganized the Diploma programme established by his father and affiliated it with the University of Ilorin, Ilorin. Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Abdullah El-Ilory proceeded further to initiate the running of undergraduate programmes in the institution in affiliation with no other tertiary institution than the better-by-far university – the University of Ilorin, Ilorin

Accordingly, the authorities of the University of Ilorin delegated a powerful resource assessment team led by Prof. Ahmad Abdul-Salam to visit Markaz Centre for Undergraduate Studies to access its level of preparedness in terms of infrastructural facilities, staffing, pragrammes and student support services. The Prof. Ahmad Abdul-Salam-led team made a number of suggestions to Markaz for the improvement of its overall resources. These suggestions were meticulously carried out by the authority of Markaz.

In collaboration with the University of Ilorin, the National Universities Commission (NUC) was officially invited for the verification of the available resources in Markaz. Following the success of the visit, the National Universities Commission (NUC) granted approval to Markaz on 29^th December, 2023, to run B.A. (Hons) Islamic Studies and B.A. (Hons) Arabic Studies. This marks the commencement of degree programmes in Markaz in the 2024/2025 academic session with the initial population of twenty students (20) in Arabic and ten (10) in Islamic Studies