By Comfort Asemota
For 14 years, Christian students at the Federal University of Kashere (FUK) in Gombe State have worshipped in temporary, overcrowded, and frequently disrupted spaces due to the absence of a campus chapel. This has continued even as multiple mosques and Muslim prayer grounds operate across the university.
While the institution maintains that land has been allocated for the chapel project, students and religious leaders argue that the lack of a functional Christian worship centre highlights deeper concerns about fairness, inclusive planning, and equitable religious infrastructure on a federal campus.
A Longstanding Challenge Since FUK’s Establishment
When FUK was established in 2011 as one of Nigeria’s nine new federal universities, both Muslim and Christian students arrived expecting a learning environment where academic and spiritual needs would be supported. However, Christian students say the reality has been different.
Fourteen years later, there is still no dedicated chapel, resulting in:
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constant relocations,
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worship disruptions,
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safety concerns,
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overcrowded worship areas, and
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growing online agitation.
Closure of Multipurpose Sports Complex Sparks New Outcry
The Multipurpose Sports Complex—temporarily used by Christian students due to the small size of their former venue, FCLT 1—was recently locked for alleged renovations. The unexpected closure triggered online criticism and revived discussions about the prolonged absence of a chapel.
Photos of the locked hall circulated on X (formerly Twitter), prompting reactions from users concerned about the situation.
One user, @Zerubabel, wrote:
“Christian students in Federal University Kashere have been suffering since the inception of the school. There’s no single chapel for Christian students and lecturers, but there are dozens of mosques on campus.”
Students Describe Years of Temporary Worship Arrangements
When FUK opened in 2011, the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) began searching for a suitable worship venue. For years, they used Lecture Theatre FCLT 1 for Sunday and weekday services, but rapid student population growth made the hall unsafe and inadequate.
This led the fellowship to relocate to the Multipurpose Sports Complex, a well-ventilated structure large enough to accommodate worshippers—until it was suddenly locked this year.
The President of FCS, Damter Isaac, explained that the closure caused significant confusion:
“We thought it would be resolved before Sunday, but the hall remained locked. We were told it would not reopen until after a public lecture later in the week.”
FCS eventually moved back to FCLT 1, pending the completion of renovations.
Campus Survey Shows Uneven Religious Infrastructure
A survey of the university environment shows that FUK hosts numerous prayer spaces for Muslim students and staff, including:
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a mosque at the Chancellery,
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one at the former Vice Chancellor’s office,
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a mosque by Gate 3,
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a prayer space inside the library,
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a mosque at the Postgraduate School,
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one near the medical centre,
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the Central Mosque near the Union Bank branch,
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a worship area beside the boys’ hostel, and
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a prayer ground near the ICT centre.
By contrast, there is no designated Christian worship centre—a disparity that has fueled the ongoing agitation.
Students Launch Crowdfunding for Chapel Project
In response to the prolonged delay, Christian students have opened a crowdfunding account to raise funds for constructing a chapel. FCS members confirm the initiative, saying it reflects the growing frustration of students who are eager for a permanent worship space after more than a decade.
