By Mary Onyia
THE Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah, has called for more integration in Nigeria especially in public universities in the North, alleging that they are averse to having churches built on their campuses.
Describing the situation as declining diversity and meritocracy in the Nigerian Universities, Kukah expressed worry that the Nigerian universities were becoming a mere incubators of ethnic jingoism.
The Bishop made this remark, Thursday on Arise TV’s “The Morning Show”.
The cleric said, “A mosque was constructed in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I delivered a convocation lecture in Calabar three weeks ago. After my lecture, the Chief Imam of the university came to congratulate me.
“But as I speak to you, Usmanu Dan Fodio University, which is over 40 years old, Bayero University, and other universities in northern Nigeria have decided to close their doors to the possibility of churches being built in the universities across this country.
“All this fanaticism we are seeing is expressed in public life. If students in the university or at the point of their growing up are not allowed to integrate and interrelate, and if churches or mosques cannot be built across this country, then there is a problem.”
He said the pattern of diminishing diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities, where ethnic and religious considerations were gaining prominence was depressing.
“There was a time when Ahmadu Bello University had lecturers from different parts of the world. Now, look at what has happened to our universities across Nigeria. Our universities have become just mere incubators of ethnic jingoism.
“So, I do not know which funded federal university that you will name that has a vice chancellor that is not a local boy.
“So the universities themselves have become playgrounds for the ambitions of the local elite. “The question is: Why should a place of worship be a problem for a university, whether it is for the Muslim students in Calabar or the Christian students in Sokoto?
“I approached the Minister of Education about this. I have a letter from the Nigerian Universities Commission. Universities in northern Nigeria have refused to implement this recommendation”, the Bishop said.