Bishop Kukah: I Am Not a Hausa Man

IGBARIAM – The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has issued a firm clarification regarding his ethnic identity, urging Nigerians to cease labeling him as a “Hausa man.”

​Speaking during his official installation as the Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) at its 16th convocation ceremony on Saturday, the vocal cleric emphasized that while he is a “typical Nigerian,” his roots are distinct.

​”I am from Anchuna, Ikulu Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” the Bishop stated. “I am not a Hausa man by origin. Nigerians should stop addressing me as such.”

​The clarification came as Bishop Kukah assumed his new role at the Igbariam-based institution, a position bestowed upon him by the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo. The Bishop lauded the state’s educational strides, noting that Anambra consistently ranks among the top performers in national education statistics.

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​A Reward for Excellence

​The convocation was marked by significant philanthropic gestures from the state government. Governor Soludo, acting as the university visitor, decorated Bishop Kukah, citing his “moral leadership and wisdom” as vital assets to the university’s future.

​In a move to incentivize academic rigor, the Governor announced a ₦4 million cash prize for the overall best-graduating student, Somtochukwu Augustus Ume. Ume, a graduate of the Economics Department, achieved a stellar Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.85.

​Furthermore, Soludo extended full scholarships to all 37 first-class graduates of the session, covering their postgraduate studies up to the doctorate level at any public university of their choice.

​Shift Toward Problem-Solving

​Governor Soludo used the platform to challenge the Nigerian ivory tower to move beyond the traditional “certificate-focused” model. He urged COOU and other institutions to produce “disruptive thinkers” rather than “mere enumerators.”

​”Our institutions must raise innovative, solution-driven graduates who can respond to the challenges of our time,” Soludo said, charging the new graduates to act as agents of change in a rapidly evolving global economy.

​Accepting his new mantle, Bishop Kukah pledged to not only meet the university’s current strategic goals but to surpass them, fostering an environment of character and excellence for the South-East region and the nation at large.