The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has lamented what he described as the declining diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities.

The Bishop also expressed grave concern over the trend of Nigerian universities promoting ethnic and religious biases.

The firebrand bishop made the observations in an interview with Arise TV on Thursday monitored by IVNTV NEWS.

The cleric criticized what he described as a worrying trend in Nigerian universities. He said there are a declining diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Fielding questions from the interviewer, Kukah said, “A mosque was constructed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I delivered a convocation lecture in Calabar three weeks ago. After my lecture, the Chief Imam of the University came to congratulate me.

“But as I speak to you, Usman Dan Fodio, who is over 40 years old, Bayero University, and other universities in Northern Nigeria does not have Churches. They have decided to close their doors to the possibility of Churches being built in the universities across this country.

“All this fanaticism we are seeing is expressed in public life. If students in the university or at the point of their growing up are not allowed to integrate and interrelate, and if churches or mosques cannot be built across this country, then there is a problem,” Kukah said.

The bishop further stated that diversity and meritocracy in Nigerian universities, have continued to diminish. While ethnic and religious considerations are gaining prominence.

“There was a time when Ahmadu Bello University had lecturers from different parts of the world. Now, look at what has happened to our Universities across Nigeria. Our Universities have become just mere incubators of ethnic jingoism,” he lamented.