Kano, Katsina communities protest closure of FUDMA study centres

The decision of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, to shut down all its study centres across the country has continued to generate concern among communities hosting the centres.

Community groups in Katsina and Kano states have warned that the move could jeopardise the educational future of thousands of students.

Daily Trust reports that FUDMA was established in 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan and commenced academic activities in 2012 as part of efforts to expand access to higher education in underserved states.

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The university operates study centres attended by thousands of students across Katsina, Kano and Kaduna states.

However, the Federal Ministry of Education has directed universities operating study centres to shut them down and concentrate academic activities on their main campuses.

The directive exempted only the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), which has the statutory mandate to operate multiple study centres across the country.

Communities hosting the centres have opposed the development, arguing that it would place students in a difficult situation.

The Daura Literacy and Awareness Association (DLAA), in a statement issued on Friday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the management of FUDMA to urgently intervene.

The association urged the authorities to halt the closure of the university’s study centres, stressing that relocating students to the main campus in Dutsin-Ma would impose severe hardship on many of them.

According to the association, the centres have become a lifeline for students facing financial, social, occupational and family challenges.

“These centres serve as a vital pathway to higher education for thousands of students who may otherwise be excluded,” the statement said.

It warned that shutting them down would not only disrupt academic progress but also undermine efforts to expand access to education in underserved communities.

The association noted that the development had already triggered anxiety among students, parents, guardians and other stakeholders across Katsina State and neighbouring states.

It added that many fear that relocation to Dutsin-Ma could force some students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, to abandon their studies.

Similar concerns in Kano

Community leaders in Bichi, Kano State, where one of the study centres is located, also described the planned closure as “unfortunate, disturbing and unacceptable.”

In an earlier statement titled “The Proposed Closure of FUDMA Bichi Study Centre: A Matter of Public Concern,” they warned that relocating students to Dutsin-Ma would expose them to serious hardship arising from economic realities, transportation challenges, insecurity and social pressures.

“For some students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, this may mark the end of their educational journey entirely,” they said.

The community leaders also questioned what they described as the silence of public officials and relevant institutions on the matter.

“Why are our leaders silent? Where are the legal practitioners? Where are the relevant authorities, such as the Public Complaints Commission and the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission? Why is the general public not paying attention?” the statement queried.

The Bichi study centre has enjoyed support from prominent individuals, including the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who donated an 18-seater bus and sponsored several students.

The Chairman of Bichi Local Government and the area’s member of the House of Representatives, Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, also supported the centre through projects, including the construction of additional blocks.

The community expressed concern that such investments could be wasted if the centre is eventually shut down.

University management defends action

Responding to the growing outcry, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mohammed Khalid Othman, said the suspension of academic activities at the study centres was in compliance with a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education.

He said the university remained committed to ensuring that all students enrolled at the affected centres graduate within the stipulated period.

According to him, academic activities will continue through a virtual classroom management platform, the Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS), which will serve students from centres in Katsina, Kano and Kaduna states.

He said the platform would facilitate seamless online teaching and learning, enabling students to complete their programmes without compromising academic standards.

Prof. Othman urged students to embrace the new arrangement by acquiring the necessary skills to effectively utilise the online learning platform.

He added that the ministry had advised FUDMA to absorb affected students into its Centre for Distance Learning, thereby allowing them to continue their programmes without disruption.

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