The Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA) has protested against the proposed concession of 30 hectares of the school land to a private company under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement for real estate development.
The protest is coming at a time when the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, on Monday laid the foundation for 18 new critical Infrastructure and assets as well as renovation of 14 facilities at the 53-year-old-college.
The projects are to be implemented under a Public Private Partnership Land Swap deal with Pluck Global Company.
But in a statement issued after its meeting on Monday, FGKOSA National President, Shoyinka Shodunke, said the plan amounted to the destruction of a national educational legacy.
It noted that Unity Schools were established as symbols of excellence, integration, and nation-building, warning that any action that undermines their integrity reflects a troubling disregard for education as a driver of national progress.
The President said the development was particularly disturbing at a time when countries around the world are expanding educational infrastructure, while Nigeria appears to be dismantling existing assets meant for learning.
Shodunke explained that alumni have consistently invested billions of naira in the college, funding infrastructure and supporting academic programs without seeking any portion of school land in return.
He added that the association has already established a foundation dedicated to sustaining the institution, with plans to raise ₦5 billion at its official launch in June 2026.
The alumni argued that the concession plan is essentially a commercial real estate venture that diverts nationally designated educational land into private hands.
It warned that the introduction of a mixed-use estate beside the school would expose students to avoidable risks and erode the secure environment required for effective learning.
They also stressed that the land earmarked for the project includes critical open spaces needed for recreation, expansion, and future development, insisting that reducing the school’s capacity cannot be considered beneficial in any form.
FGCKOSA also questioned why land belonging to Federal Government College Kano was chosen for the project, pointing out that the state has abundant land available for real estate development.
It maintained that the arrangement offers no tangible benefit to the school and is structured primarily for private commercial gain.
The association urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel the proposed concession, protect the sanctity of Unity Schools nationwide, and ensure that no action compromises the future of education in Nigeria.
It also cautioned members of the public against purchasing or investing in any land tied to the project, warning that such transactions may be overturned and expose buyers to financial loss.
Shodunke emphasized that the alumni will not relent in pursuing all lawful avenues to resist the concession, reaffirming their commitment to safeguarding the legacy of the school for future generations.
Under the landswap deal, the private company will provide 18 critical infrastructure and assets including students hostel, corpers lodge, three bedroom block of flats, skills acquisition centre and a clinic worth eight billion Naira in exchange for 30 hectares of land from the college.
