Pattern of Students’ Enrolment and Graduation Rates in Al-Hikmah University, Nigeria: Implications for Management

Enrolment and graduation rates are regarded as important indices that can be used to measure the growth and development of higher institutions, be it private or public. It is on this premise that this study assessed the students’ enrolment and graduation rates in Al-Hikmah University and its implication for the management. Two research questions were raised to guide the study. In order to provide answers to the research questions, secondary data were collected that consists of number of students’ enrolment from 2006–2019. Also, number of students that graduated were obtained from 2009–2019. Data collected were analysed using descriptive method. Findings of the study revealed high students’ enrolment from 2006 to 2020. Specifically, the highest enrolment in the university was in 2019 where it had 2793 at undergraduate level while 288 students were admitted in the year 2020 at postgraduate level. On graduation rate, findings showed that in the 2015/2016, 874 students graduated from the university, been the highest number of graduands ever recorded at undergraduate level while 64 postgraduate students were graduated in the year 2017/2018 session, been the highest number since the inception of the university. Based on the foregoing, the study concludes that enrolment and graduation rates are key determinants of school success. The study recommends that there is need for recruitment of agents to assist the  university in sourcing for students that are yearning for admission. The  agents to be recruited must be remunerated based on number of students they bring to the  university; this will increase their recruitment drive. Lastly, there is need for downward review of the school fees so as to increase the enrolment of students.