The Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, has explained the worrying trend of declining diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities, which are increasingly influenced by ethnic and religious affiliations.

Kukah, during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise TV on Thursday, expressed his dismay over the closure of doors to churches in universities in Northern Nigeria, as monitored by our correspondent.

The Bishop mentioned that a mosque was built at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he gave a convocation speech in Calabar three weeks ago, and following the speech, the Chief Imam of the University came to congratulate him. But Bayero University, and other universities in Northern Nigeria have chosen to prohibit the construction of churches within their campuses.

He pointed out the problematic nature of this trend and the worrying pattern of decreasing diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities, with ethnic and religious factors becoming more prominent.

The Bishop stated that at one point, Ahmadu Bello University had lecturers from different parts of the world, but things have changed now.

Stressing that almost all federal universities have an indigenous vice chancellor, he highlighted how it has become a place of ambitions for the local elite.

He further advocated for greater transparency in recruitment processes to prioritise merit over favouritism.

Kukah advised, “Therefore, let us restore nobility around the universities because that is where the leaders of tomorrow are going to come from. Let us also diversify it in the way that former President Olusegun Obasanjo did.