The authorities of the Umaru Yar’Ádua University,
Katsina, have denied discriminating against Christian
students in the approval granted a students religious
association to operate on its campus.
The Acting Dean of Student Affairs of the University,
Sulaiman Kankara, had in January 17 memo informed
students of a new guideline for the registration of clubs
and associations in the institution.
In the circular, Dr. Kankara indicated that participation
in clubs and associations, including departmental ones,
were strictly optional and that no student should be
compelled to pay dues.
He also outlawed the formation of tribal and local
government associations in the university.
But the controversial part of the memo which made the
document to go viral was the dean’s pronouncement
that the “Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) is
the only religious association allowed to operate on
campus.”
After the memo was shared on social media, the
university came under ferocious attacks from many
Nigerians, with some commentators saying the
guideline was part of government’s plot to Islamized
Nigeria.
But when contacted on Sunday morning, Dr. Kankara
said that aspect of the guideline was actually targeted
at Islamic groups which were beginning to mushroom
on campus, creating division among students of the
same faith.
The dean said, “Actually there is one misconception in
the memo. But the fact of the matter is that in Umaru
Yar’Ádua University, there is no association known as
Christian Students Association.
“There is one religious association and subsidiary
Islamic students associations like the Tijjanniya
Students Movement in Nigeria, Academic Forum of
Islamic Movement in Nigeria and many associations
like that.
“They are Islamic students association. So what we
want is to have a single union which will be the
mouthpiece of muslim students and that is the Muslim
Students Society of Nigeria.
“It has nothing to do with any Christian group because
up till now, I have not received any application
requesting registration of Christian Students Society.
“And once they do that, we are ready to register them.
Even as at last week, we said the two religious group to
be recognised by the university will be the Muslim one
and one from Christian side.
“Up till now we are to receive any application for the
registration of any Christian association in the
university from any group.”
