Islamic Online University of The Gambia over the weekend held a daylong awareness programme for its prospective students and public at the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council headquarters along the MDI Road, Kanifing.
The event was characterised by presentation by IOU lecturers, Islamic scholars, quiz and registration for IOU online programs.
Speaking at the conference, Muhammad Dawud, the IOU director of operations said the institution is the brainchild of Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, launched in 2007 from Qatar offering more than 24 short free diploma courses.
“By mid-2012, its total number registered student body reached over 150, 000 from 219 countries in the world, making IOU the number one online university in the world with respect to the diversity of its student body. In March 2010, the IOU introduced the world`s first tuition-free, online bachelor of arts in Islamic Sudies based on a modified curriculum derived from those of the Islamic university of Madeenah, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan, and Al-Azhar University in Cairo.
The Islamic online university aims to grant global access to quality undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate level Islamic and Islamised educational programs for students at virtually no cost. Its mission is to be a catalyst for change in the global Muslim nation in order to facilitate their contribution to the progress of human civilisation.”
For his part, Sheikh Hamma Jaiteh, underscored the importance of seeking knowledge noting that seeking knowledge is one of the greatest acts of worship in Islam.
“The Islamic Online University (IOU) has since its inception in July 2013 offered students courses online including the intensive English program that has attracted great interest not only among people with Madrassa backgrounds but also among professionals desiring to upgrade their language skill,” he said.
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