The Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah expressed concerns during an interview with Arise TV about the growing issue of ethnic and religious prejudices in Nigerian universities, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
He criticized the declining diversity and meritocracy in these institutions, pointing out the contrasting experiences at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Usman Dan Fodio University in Northern Nigeria. At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a mosque was constructed, and the Chief Imam of the university congratulated Kukah after his convocation lecture in Calabar. However, Usman Dan Fodio University and other universities in Northern Nigeria have restricted the possibility of churches being built within their campuses, which Kukah views as a troubling trend.
The Bishop emphasized that this fanaticism, if not addressed early, could have far-reaching consequences in public life. He believes that if students in universities, a critical period of personal growth, are not allowed to interact and integrate, it could lead to a lack of understanding and tolerance between different religious and ethnic groups.
Kukah also pointed out that diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities have been on the decline, with ethnic and religious considerations gaining more prominence. He lamented the transformation of Nigerian universities, once hubs of global intellectual exchange, into mere incubators of ethnic chauvinism.
