The Directorate of Basic and Pre-Degree Programmes (DBPP) is a strategic academic unit of the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) established to advance the University’s commitment to widening access to quality higher education through innovative foundational and professional academic programmes.
The Directorate was originally established in March 2021 as the Directorate of Pre-Degree Programmes with the mandate to coordinate and manage all Pre-Degree Programmes of the University. Following its establishment, the then Vice Chancellor, Professor Kyari Mohammed, appointed Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Babagana as the pioneer and substantive Coordinator on 5 March 2021 to lead its institutional development and programme implementation.
One of the Directorate’s earliest achievements was the successful establishment and institutionalisation of the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) Programme at NAUB following approval by the IJMB Headquarters, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 2021. Since then, the Directorate has continued to provide credible and flexible academic pathways for prospective students seeking university admission.
In January 2026, following the approval of University Management and Senate, the Directorate was restructured and renamed the Directorate of Basic and Pre-Degree Programmes. The restructuring significantly expanded its mandate to include the administration and coordination of Basic Studies and Senate-approved Diploma Programmes, thereby transforming the Directorate into a multi-programme academic unit of strategic importance to the University.
Today, the Directorate serves as a gateway for foundational, preparatory, and professional academic programmes designed to support academic progression, skills development, and human capital advancement in line with the University’s vision of excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and national development.
VISION
To be a leading academic gateway for foundational and professional education that prepares learners for academic excellence, lifelong learning, and meaningful contributions to national development.
MANDATE
The Directorate is mandated to:
- Coordinate and administer all Basic, Pre-Degree, and Diploma Programmes of the University.
- Facilitate access to higher education through innovative and flexible academic pathways.
- Promote academic excellence and quality assurance in programme delivery.
- Develop and implement policies relating to foundational and diploma education.
- Support the University’s human capital development objectives through quality programme administration.
- Foster collaborations with relevant regulatory and affiliating institutions.
FUNCTIONS OF THE DIRECTORATE
The Directorate is responsible for:
- Coordinating admissions into programmes under its purview.
- Administering and monitoring academic activities and examinations.
- Ensuring compliance with approved academic and regulatory standards.
- Developing and implementing programme policies and guidelines.
- Coordinating teaching, assessment, and programme delivery.
- Advising University Management on matters relating to Basic, Pre-Degree, and Diploma education.
- Facilitating programme accreditation, affiliation, and institutional partnerships.
- Promoting innovative approaches to foundational and professional education.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
- Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) Programme
The IJMB Programme is one of the flagship programmes administered by the Directorate. Fully affiliated with the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Headquarters, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the programme provides candidates with opportunities for Direct Entry admission into 200-level degree programmes in Nigerian universities and selected foreign institutions.
The Directorate is responsible for the overall administration, coordination, and quality assurance of the programme at the NAUB Centre. It ensures compliance with all academic and regulatory requirements while maintaining the University’s standards of excellence in teaching, learning, and student support services.
Since its affiliation in 2021, the NAUB IJMB Centre has successfully coordinated multiple examination cycles and facilitated the admission of qualified candidates into undergraduate programmes.
- Diploma Programmes
Following Senate approval in January 2026, the Directorate commenced the administration and coordination of Diploma Programmes as part of its expanded mandate.
The Diploma Programmes are designed to provide specialised academic and professional training aimed at enhancing employability, promoting skills acquisition, and supporting academic progression. They offer learners flexible opportunities for professional development and provide pathways for further studies in accordance with University regulations and national educational policies.
The introduction of the Diploma Programmes represents a significant milestone in the evolution of the Directorate and reinforces the University’s commitment to expanding access to quality and inclusive higher education.
STRATEGIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Since its establishment in 2021, the Directorate has recorded significant institutional milestones, including:
- Successful establishment and institutionalisation of the IJMB Programme at NAUB.
- Securing and maintaining affiliation with the IJMB Headquarters, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
- Successful coordination of annual IJMB examinations and admission of qualified candidates into undergraduate programmes.
- Expansion of the Directorate’s mandate through the introduction of Senate-approved Diploma Programmes.
- Positioning the Directorate as a strategic academic gateway for foundational and professional education at NAUB.
- Strengthening the University’s efforts towards widening educational opportunities and human capital development.
GOVERNANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
The Directorate of Basic and Pre-Degree Programmes is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic quality, programme integrity, and administrative efficiency in the delivery of its programmes.
In the discharge of its mandate, the Directorate works closely with the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance and other relevant academic and administrative units of the University to ensure compliance with approved academic policies, regulatory requirements, and best practices in higher education administration.
The Directorate collaborates with the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance on matters relating to programme development, curriculum implementation, quality assurance processes, student assessment, and the continuous improvement of academic standards across its programmes.
Additionally, the Directorate interfaces with Faculties, Departments, the Registry, and other service units of the University to ensure the effective administration of its academic activities and the successful implementation of institutional policies and Senate-approved programmes.
This collaborative governance approach reflects the University’s commitment to academic excellence, institutional accountability, and continuous quality enhancement in line with global best practices in higher education.
DIRECTOR’S PROFILE
Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Babagana
Reader, Department of Management
Director, Directorate of Basic and Pre-Degree Programmes
Pioneer Coordinator, Centre for Military Performance Management (CMPM)
Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Babagana is a distinguished academic, researcher, and university administrator with over twenty-five years of experience in teaching, research, academic leadership, and institutional development.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; a Master of Science degree in Social Science Research Methods (Management and Business Studies) from Cardiff University, United Kingdom; and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Resource Management from Universiti Utara Malaysia, Malaysia.
Prior to joining the Nigerian Army University Biu in 2020, Dr. Babagana served at Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, where he rose through the academic ranks to become Chief Lecturer and held several pioneering administrative appointments.
Since joining NAUB, he has provided strategic leadership in programme development and institutional innovation. He pioneered the establishment of the University’s IJMB Programme and successfully led the transformation of the Directorate from a pre-degree coordinating office into a multi-programme academic directorate responsible for Basic Studies, Pre-Degree, and Diploma Programmes.
Dr. Babagana’s areas of teaching and research include Human Resource Management, Performance Management, Military Performance Management, Leadership Studies, Human Capital Development, Higher Education Administration, and Research Methods. He has published extensively in reputable national and international journals and has presented scholarly papers at numerous national and international conferences.
His growing body of scholarship in Military Performance Management has positioned him among the early Nigerian academics developing this emerging field from a management and institutional effectiveness perspective. His work focuses on military personnel performance, institutional effectiveness, strategic knowledge partnerships, accountability systems, and performance excellence in military institutions.
INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Dr. Babagana has played a pioneering role in the development of strategic academic initiatives at the Nigerian Army University Biu.
He is the pioneer Coordinator of the Directorate of Pre-Degree Programmes (now Directorate of Basic and Pre-Degree Programmes) and the pioneer Coordinator of the Centre for Military Performance Management (CMPM), a strategic academic initiative established by the University to advance research, executive education, policy engagement, and institutional partnerships in military performance systems.
His leadership has been instrumental in the establishment, expansion, and institutionalisation of academic programmes and strategic initiatives that support the University’s mandate in teaching, research, innovation, and human capital development.
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
The Directorate is headed by the Director and is supported by competent administrative personnel deployed by the University Registry for the day-to-day administration and implementation of its programmes and activities. The administrative support structure ensures efficient programme coordination, quality service delivery, and effective engagement with students, staff, and relevant stakeholders.
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
The Directorate of Basic and Pre-Degree Programmes remains committed to academic excellence, innovation, and the continuous expansion of educational opportunities. Through its programmes and strategic initiatives, the Directorate continues to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian Army University Biu’s mission of producing globally competitive graduates and advancing national development through quality higher education.