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Ebonyi indigenes reject handing-over of Uburu varsity to Catholic Church

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The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has rejected the donation of King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu, which it described as “Greek offer” by the governor of the state, Dave Nweze Umahi, to the Catholic Church.

The group said if the situation is not properly managed it could lead to animosity between the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, who had claimed ownership of the new varsity and the Catholic Church.

 

At the Episcopal Ordination and installation of Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Nworie Chukwu as the 3rd Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki on Thursday, August 19, 2021, Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, announced the handing over of the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu to the Catholic Bishops Conference for what he termed “optimum management and academic excellence.”

As reported via a statement made available through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Francis Nwaze, the Governor declared; “The contributions of the church to the Educational Development of Nigeria is unparalleled and for this, I, on-behalf of the State wish to give the King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria to own and run.

Reacting through a statement signed by its President, Amb. Paschal Oluchukwu, on Sunday, the Ebonyi indigenes wondered how a governor such pronouncement “which is capable of not only pitching the mother church against her sister Presbyterian Church which has been in court challenging the forceful takeover of the said property but also further negate the provisions of our extant Laws, create chaos and confusion and deepen animosity between the Christian faith even as we yet see Ebonyi as a secular State only dominated by the Christian religion.”

According to the statement, in public’s best interest, no law permits a Governor to build such a massive edifice with millions of unaccounted public funds and hand same over to a people of a particular faith in a multi-religious society like ours.

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“Apart from the severe breaches of the law typified by the non-passage of any Law enabling the donation of the said institution which was built with public funds, unaudited and unaccounted for by the Ebonyi State’s House of Assembly- an ordinarily third arm of government that has been serially amputated and utterly neglected by the Governor, Umahi has by this pronouncement shown that he’s merely a desperate dealer trying to cover-up his suspected dirty tracks by currying the favour of the largest and most populous Catholic Church.

“No one, we repeat, no church or organisation for that matter therefore should accept any such compromised dealings from a Governor like Umahi.

For we are certain that his motives on this particular offer are as ulterior as the majority of his dealings with Ebonyi people in his past six year’s on the saddle as Ebonyi Governor.”

Stating the controversies on the said Uburu varsity, the statement said: “First, the Presbyterian Church had alerted the general public that, on Friday, the 12th of July, 2019, it received a hint that the Ebonyi State exco approved Government takeover of the Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Uburu.

Also announced on the same day on the State broadcast network, was the award of contracts for the construction of several blocks of buildings for the Ebonyi State Teaching Hospital on property the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria holds on lease and has developed over 107 years as the Presbyterian Joint Hospital, Uburu.

 

“We are aware that Umahi had sent a letter asking for approval to the State’s House of Assembly asking for the State’s takeover and acquisition of the oldest Hospital founded by a Missionary, Dr. John Hitchcock which his lackeys in the said arm of government readily granted without any due diligence or investigation, the head of Information Department and Public Affairs of the Presbyterian Church, Rt. Rev. Nnoke Ibe had in a detailed Press release accused the State Governor of forcefully taking over the hospital for which it still paid rents to the family and village donors of the land upon which it is situated.

“The release, made since July 2020 had asserted without a counter-claim from the Umahi-led government that, ‘The Church is also aware that the Government’s power of eminent domain confers a power to take land it requires for public purposes; but that power is made constitutionally subject to procedures which guarantee the rights, privileges and entitlements of occupiers and holders.

The statement said: “we haven’t also forgotten that the plan was actually to acquire and build the said institution as the new State’s University medical school.

We are also knowledgeable about the fact that the Ebonyi State government recently released an outrageous fee regime of between N1 to N3M as annual School fees for the institution following the approval of it’s courses by the NUC and even announcements for job recruitments. From where and how then can the Catholic community fund, maintain and sustain such academic institution which could become a monumental waste if not properly-funded?

“If truly Umahi loves and wants academic excellence, why has he proposed the above monumental fee regime in a poor state like ours? Why has he also totally neglected the public education sector in Ebonyi without reasonable grants to the existing state-owned Primary, Secondary and especially, tertiary institutions in the State?

” he should await his days of reckoning with the antitrust agencies for all his lawless actions, misconducts and unaccountability in governance which has made Ebonyi remain the poverty capital of the entire Southern Nigeria.”

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KEDCO Refutes Misleading Claims on Electricity Supply to Bayero University Kano

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Management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has refuted recent reports alleging that staff and students of Bayero University Kano (BUK) are grappling with unstable electricity supply.

 

This is contained in a statement signed by Sani Bala Sani Head of corporate communications Kano electricity Distribution Company.

Sani said the claims are false, misleading, and do not reflect the current reality of power supply to the institution.

Sani Bala said KEDCO is compelled to address the outright falsehoods in the claims made by sources from the institution in a recent report published by Daily Trust Newspaper titled: ‘How BUK’s Solar Project Collapsed, 2 Years After Commissioning’, on Saturday, 13th December 2025.

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According to Sani Bayero University Kano is supplied with Band A electricity supply, connected via the 33kV Rice Field Feeder, with a guaranteed minimum of 21 hours of electricity supply daily, in line with regulatory provisions. Records from KEDCO’s network operations clearly show consistent and reliable power delivery to the university’s main campuses.

The Head said recently a high-level engagements were held between the Management of Bayero University Kano and KEDCO, during which both parties reached a mutual understanding on strategic energy efficiency and cost-reduction measures. Chief among these resolutions is the separation of electricity supply to the staff quarters from the main academic complex, a step aimed at improving load management, transparency, and operational efficiency.

In line with this agreement, metering process has already commenced in the university’s staff quarters, covering both the old and new campuses and said the initiative will ensure accurate energy measurement, promote responsible consumption, and enhance service sustainability.

Sani Bala pointed out that KEDCO remains committed to providing reliable, quality, and transparent electricity supply to all its customers, including tertiary institutions. We encourage stakeholders and the general public to seek clarification from verified sources and avoid the dissemination of unverified reports that may cause unnecessary concern.

The company further pledges to work closely with Bayero University Kano and othe critical institutions to support uninterrupted academic and administrative activities through efficient power supply solutions.

He added that KEDCO remain committed to enhancing service delivery through continuous improvement in power supply, leveraging investment in network expansion and upgrades.

 

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Press Week: NUJ National President Inaugurates Kano Online Media Chapel Office

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As part of activities marking the celebration of Press Week 2025, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Alhasan Yahaya, has inaugurated the Online Media Chapel office at the headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kano Council.

Comrade Alhasan Yahaya, who was supported by the Chairman of the Kano Council of the NUJ, Comrade Suleiman Abdullahi Dederi, and the Chairman of the Kano Online Media Chapel, Comrade Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo, said the NUJ constitution, which was amended, co-opted online journalist practitioners into the NUJ. One of the key requirements for being a member of the NUJ Online Chapel is to have CAC registration, and one must be an editor or reporter of online media.

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Comrade Alhasan said that very soon the Nigeria Union of Journalists will come up with a scheme to ensure Nigerian journalists get insurance due to the hazards of the job.

Alhasan Yahaya added that private establishment practitioners will also benefit from the insurance scheme as they work hard to project the image of Nigeria.

On his part, the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, said the establishment of the Online Media Chapel was done with good intention.

He said that very soon the Government of Kano State will organize a retreat for online journalists in Kano, which will be held outside the state.

During the Press Week, awards were given to the Director General of Media and Communication to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Alhaji Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, among others.

The executives of the Online Media Chapel were inaugurated on the 27th of April at the Kano NUJ Press Center, led by Comrade Abubakar Abdulkadir Dangambo.

 

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Jigawa State Government to Renovate Government College Birnin Kudu

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Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has pledged to renovate the old premier Government College, Birnin Kudu, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening legacy educational institutions in the state.

The governor made the pledge during the 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Birnin Kudu Old Boys Association (BIKOBA), held at the college premises. He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim.

According to the governor, priority attention is being given to long-established schools because of their historical significance and the calibre of leaders they have produced over the years. He noted that the history of Jigawa State cannot be adequately told without reference to Government College Birnin Kudu, given the role its alumni have played in the state’s development.

In his address, the National President of BIKOBA, Alh. (Dr.) Ja’afar Usman Muhammad (Turakin Gaya), highlighted the association’s sustained commitment to the growth of its alma mater, working in synergy with government and development partners. He commended the Jigawa State Government under Governor Namadi for allocating funds for the renovation of the school, describing the intervention as timely in view of prevailing economic challenges.

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Dr. Muhammad outlined BIKOBA’s interventions over the years, including support for water supply, desks and chairs, hostel facilities, laboratories, medical supplies, learning materials, and sporting equipment. He also acknowledged the contributions of partners such as the Dangote Foundation, Ganduje Foundation, Qatar International, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as well as class chapters and individual members.

The BIKOBA president, however, drew attention to lingering infrastructural and administrative challenges facing the college, appealing for increased financial support to rehabilitate secretariats and address critical needs. These include the reconstruction of hostels gutted by fire, renovation of dilapidated classrooms and administrative blocks, upgrading of computer centres, staff quarters, the college mosque, and conference and dining halls. He also urged government authorities to investigate alleged lapses in admission practices and restore proper entry standards to safeguard the school’s academic quality.

Chairman of the occasion, Pharmacist Hashim Ubale Yusuf, called on individual members to continue supporting the alumni association, describing such commitment as a legacy and source of inspiration for younger generations.

Also speaking, a former President of BIKOBA, Colonel Umaru Malami, cautioned members to use their time judiciously to positively impact themselves and society. He described age as transient and urged adherence to values taught by Islam. Colonel Malami further called on governments at all levels to focus on people-centred policies capable of improving living standards, rather than making empty or unrealistic promises.

The AGM concluded with calls for collective responsibility in preserving the heritage and academic standards of Government College Birnin Kudu.

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