FUK Christian Students’ Fellowship Distances Itself from Solo Protest, Clarifies Chapel Project Status

The Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) of the Federal University of Kashere (FUK) in Gombe State has distanced itself from a member who appeared online holding a placard with the inscription “No Chapel, No Stable Space: Christian Students Deserve Better.”

In an official statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Illiya Illiya Ezekiel, the Fellowship clarified that the member acted without the knowledge or approval of the Fellowship’s Executive Council.

 “He did not follow the proper due process, and the Fellowship Executive Council was not informed or consulted before the action was taken,” the statement said.

“We therefore dissociate the Fellowship from this protest and kindly request that all related posts, uploads and shares across social media platforms be taken down immediately.”

The Fellowship reaffirmed its commitment to addressing its concerns through established procedures within the university system, assuring members that all actions will follow due process.

University’s Track Record of Inclusiveness

Since its establishment in 2011, the Federal University of Kashere has built a reputation for inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence across religious lines. Students and staff of both major religions have long enjoyed unhindered freedom of worship under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Umar A. Pate.

University records show that on February 11, 2022, the management approved a 120 × 70-metre land allocation to the Christian community for the construction of a university chapel, in line with specifications provided by the Physical Planning Department. The approval also stipulated routine sanitary supervision by university officials.

A duly signed and stamped site plan—endorsed by Ahmed S. Shehu, Chief Planning Officer—was handed over to the Christian community.

Similarly, on May 14, 2023, the university granted the Catholic Church a 60 × 70-metre parcel of land to build a Catholic chapel.

In addition, Prof. Pate approved the establishment of a full-fledged Department of Christian Religious Studies, now offering B.Sc., Master’s and PhD programmes.

Investigation: Why Construction Has Not Started

Findings reveal that while Muslim worship centres on campus were developed through donations from well-placed individuals within their community, the Christian community has yet to raise sufficient funds to begin construction on its allocated land.

A fundraising drive was previously launched, but the amount realised was reportedly insufficient to kickstart the project.

Multiple students interviewed stated that there was no protest; rather, Christian students have been quietly seeking support from well-meaning individuals to help commence the building project. Several described the online placard incident as a “misrepresentation” of their efforts.

University Reacts to Online Reports.

The University’s Head of Information and Protocol, Mrs Janet Ibrahim Ezekiel, also dismissed claims circulating on social media and some online platforms suggesting Christian students lack a place of worship.

According to her, the student who displayed the placard acted alone and later uploaded the image online.

“What happened was not a protest. It was an attempt by a student to create awareness and attract assistance for the chapel project,” she said.

She added that the gesture ultimately helped draw the attention of the university community to the need for more support for the ongoing fundraising.

Mrs Ezekiel further disclosed that the university had earlier set up a Chapel Building Committee, chaired by Pharmacist Paul Arua, to coordinate efforts toward establishing a befitting worship centre for Christian students.

University Debunks Allegations of Bias

The university strongly refuted recent media claims alleging that Christian students have been deprived of worship spaces for 14 years while multiple mosques operate freely on campus. Management described the reports as “baseless, unfounded and misleading.”

According to the institution, Christian students continue to use designated university facilities for worship without hindrance while awaiting the commencement of construction on the allocated land.

Management insisted that such reports do not reflect the institution’s history or its long-standing culture of peaceful coexistence and inclusiveness.