Unity Schools leadership meeting with Minister of Education end over FGC KANO Landswap end in deadolck as Awareness rally set for saturday 9th

A high-stakes meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education and leaders of old students’ associations ended inconclusively on Thursday, as both sides failed to reach a resolution over a controversial land swap and concession deal at Federal Government College (FGC) Kano.

The over four-hour session, held on May 7, 2026, brought together the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, and the leadership of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) alongside the FGC Kano Old Students Association (FGCKOSA).

At the heart of the dispute is a proposed concession arrangement that USOSA and FGCKOSA argue would commercialize a significant portion of the school’s land, threatening its legacy, reducing academic and recreational spaces, and creating potential security risks.

USOSA President General Michael Magaji, leading a delegation that included board members and senior alumni, voiced strong opposition to the plan. The association demanded the immediate suspension of the concession, warning that commercializing school assets sets a dangerous precedent.

“Alumni associations have consistently delivered projects worth hundreds of millions of naira across Unity Schools without the need to sell off or commercialize school land,” Magaji stated.

In a significant move, FGCKOSA formally proposed an alternative. National President Shoyinka Shodunke told the Ministry that the alumni body is prepared to match the infrastructure investment offered by the unnamed commercial enterprise, provided the school’s land is preserved for future development. The association also decried its exclusion from the decision-making process thus far.

In response, Dr. Alausa acknowledged the alumni’s concerns but defended the concession as a necessary component of the Ministry’s broader infrastructure renewal strategy. He thanked USOSA for its historic role in bridging funding gaps—noting contributions worth hundreds of millions of naira over 20 years—but maintained that public-private partnerships (PPPs) remain a key path forward.

The Minister made a direct appeal to the alumni: suspend their planned awareness rally scheduled for May 9, 2026, and withdraw pending legal action by FGCKOSA.

Seeking common ground, Dr. Alausa promised deeper collaboration with USOSA on future PPP projects. He specifically cited Kings College, Lagos, where alumni have expressed interest in taking over management under a PPP scheme. A proposal for that arrangement is expected to be submitted to the Federal Executive Council in the coming weeks.

The Minister also handed USOSA a copy of the Ministry’s official PPP guidelines, inviting the association to develop a strong value proposition for PPP opportunities across all Unity Schools.


Despite the lengthy dialogue, Thursday’s meeting ended without a conclusive agreement. USOSA and FGCKOSA have pledged to continue constructive engagement with the Ministry, vowing to seek a lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the impasse over FGC Kano.