Why we said only Muslim students association is allowed - Umaru Yar’Ádua University

The Umaru Yar’Ádua University has released an official statement regarding a controversial memo

- The university initially received a memo where it stated that only MSSN was allowed on the campus

- The memo generated controversy and was seen as discriminatory

The Umaru Yar’Ádua University has been under fire after they released an internal memo which stated that the only society allowed on the campus was the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

Below is the controversial memo:

Only Muslim students association is allowed - Katsina State University memo

The above picture of the memo went viral because many felt it was discriminating against Christian associations in the institution.

However the authorities of the university, have denied discriminating against Christian students on its campus.

According to Premium Times, Sulaiman Kankara, the acting Dean of student affairs of the university, who released the memo on January 17 was contacted on Sunday, January 22.

Dr Kankara said that controversial 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.”

Recently, an associate professor of law and the former head of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law at University of Jos (UNIJOS) has been suspended by the institution for cheating during an examination.