Again, University dons of Southern Kaduna origins, under the umbrella of the Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors (FOSKAP), have condemned the opposition against the establishment of the Federal University of Applied Sciences in the Southern part of the state.
Those against the establishment of the university claimed that there is a paucity of funding for tertiary institutions by the Federal Government.
Reacting, the lecturers said it is inconceivable that the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, would be a harbinger of catastrophe for the people of Nigeria by the time it takes off.
In a statement on Monday, the Chairman of FOSKAP, Professor John Gambo Laah, while condemning a National Newspaper editorial against the establishment of the Federal University, said, “Nigerians are aware that all universities in the country, both private and public are faced with the challenge of funding,” pointing out that “not establishing the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, will not be the action that will improve the funding situation of Nigerian universities.”
He said, “The Forum of Southern Kaduna Professors condemns in totality the attempt to oppose the establishment of the Federal University under the veiled argument that the existing institutions are empty. We have never been in doubt that there are some people that would naturally opposed any form of development in Southern Kaduna.”
He urged the federal government to reject the call against the establishment of the university.
Giving reasons, he said, “In the last ten years or so, we have witnessed an increased in the number of universities and other higher educational institutions in Nigeria. And this has tremendously reduced the high students/staff ratio which the editorial equally observed was very high compared to institutions in Europe.”
He said every Nigerian deserves equal access to education and newspapers have a responsibility to address all forms of discrimination including educational discrimination in terms of access.
He said the editorial demonstrated that those areas that have been denied access to education should continue to suffer as the government does not have money to establish new universities.
He argued that forensic analysis of the argument put forward against the establishment of the university “reveals some sinister motives.”
Laah expressed excitement that the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, in his first widely publicised condolence visit to Southern Kaduna, announced the approval by the Federal Government to establish a Federal University at Kachia.
He said the principle behind the total support for the Bill for the Establishment of Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, is the fact that the bill was articulated based on the outcome of uncommon desire by the people and was eloquently presented by Senator Sunday Marshall Katung.
He commended the roles played by lawmakers for the establishment of the university in Southern Kaduna, adding, “We are very grateful to the Distinguished Senators and the entire members of the National Assembly for their foresight in ensuring that the bill which seeks to promote pure science education in Nigeria is unanimously passed by both chambers.”
