A RETHINK OVER KARL KUMM UNIVERSITY

Shabul Mazadu

No person who knows education's worth will express pleasure at the suspension of the licence given to Karl Kumm University, the brain child of the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, from operation.

It is a sad development that licence issued to the institution in February 2021 got revoked in August same year over a squabble that ensued in June over the appointment of the school's registrar between the host Community, Vwang, versus the governing body of the institution.

If the school had been in operation, by now it would have gone some steps further.

There are some basic things that both Vwang community and COCIN should think and consider which are:

1) Of what good is their extreme stance and uncompromising posture doing to their community, the church, state and the nation at large?

The lands doled out for the University cannot be cultivated or used for other activities. The structures raised are enjoying wear and tear, or rather depreciation without being put into use for over a year now. Both the community and the church are delaying from deriving benefits from the institution. This is sabotage to progress both academically and economically.

The students who would have secured admission and would started their studies, have been denied and delayed. The funds that would have started coming to the school have been halted. Academic and none academic staff that would have started work and enjoying their renumeration are being delayed. The benefits the school would have gotten from TETFund is not coming. Potential Landlords that would have raised accomodations for off campus students, are yet to, and don't know when to. The economic activities that the community would started enjoying by the presence of students and staff of the University, is being delayed.

The boosting of Vom Christian Hospital has been delayed too, because the University has the capacity to make it more viable.

2) Vwang should know that its stance on the University is sending a dangerous signal to not only COCIN from investing other sectors in that area, but private investors within and outside the country and also international NGOs too.

It shows the community cannot compromise for the future development of its area.

Gindiri did not get compensation from missionaries who came and started schools there, but the benefits it derived then and now are more than whatever compensation they would have gotten. For instance, J.D. Gomwalk the first administrator of Benue Plateau was trained in Gindiri, the benefits that Gindiri, the entire State and the country at large benefitted from his legacies as an administrator are unquantifiable. Can one count the benefits derived from: University of Jos, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Central Bank, Nigerian Television Authority, Plateau State Secretariat and so on?

Solomon Lar graduated from Gindiri Teachers College and became the governor of Plateau State. He established College of Education Gindiri. Today, there are many sons and daughters of Gindiri working in the institution. The institution has developed Gindiri and almost linked it up with Mangu.

The schools trained Professor Elias Bogoro, Chief Samuel Bitrus Atukum former administrator of Plateau State. Most of the gubernatorial aspirants in Plateau today are members of Gindiri Old Students Association.

If the people of Gindiri had this problem Vwang Community is having with Karl Kumm, the Missionaries wouldn't have established Boys Secondary School, Girls High School, COCIN Comprehensive and School for the Blind; which by implication, the governors trained there wouldn't have been trained such as: Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, Ex Governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu, J.D. Gomwalk, Samuel Atukum and Solomon Lar. The likes of Professor Elias Bogoro, General Temlong, and so on. Remember the sound tutelage and morality imbibed in these great men by the missionaries moulded them to be what they are and what they were.

The credit today goes to COCIN irrespective of their denominational and religious affiliation.

The action of Vwang Community is not known only in Plateau but internationally. And whoever would want to invest there, will have to do their survey first which will be terribly discouraging.

I will sincerely suggest that Vwang Community should recant its stance for the sake of the greater good of its posterity and itself. If their demands are not made now, it doesn't mean they will never be made. College of Education Gindiri did not start with an indigene as Provost, but with time one of them became the provost.

Indigenes of Gindiri were not given much consideration in terms of employment in the early stage in COEG, but with time they were considered. It's not wise to throw away the baby with the bathing water.

The most important thing is the flag-off of the institution, and things will start taking shape.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe said, "We make compromise to allow the nation to succeed. Without compromise, could this world progress?"

This delay and extreme sides taken is of no good to anybody.