Despite saying “All Students,” Katsina University says religious memo was for Muslims only

Despite addressing its memo to “All Students, Clubs & Associations,” the administration of Umaru Yar’Ádua University in Katsina, has denied discriminating against non-Muslim students in a recent memo.

The memo dated January 17, 2017 had stated: “Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) is the only religious association allowed to operate on campus.”

It was sent out in the name of the acting Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Sulaiman Kankara, as a new guideline for the registration of clubs and associations on campus.

The memo went viral on social media, and the university came under attack for religious intolerance to non-Muslim students.

The school authority however says the memo was addressing Islamic groups which were beginning to spring up on campus, creating division among students of the same faith.

 “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 recognized by the university will be the Muslim one and one from Christian side.

“Up till now we are yet to receive any application for the registration of any Christian association in the university from any group.”

The memo stated the following four points:

1. participation in clubs and associations, including departmental ones, were strictly optional and that no student should be compelled to pay dues.

2. Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) is the only religious association allowed to operate in the University

3. Duly registered Departmental Associations should be allowed to operate, but they should observe item (1) above.

4. All Tribal and Local Government Associations are prohibited by the University