RismadarVoice Reporters, April 26, 2026
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called on Nigerians to refrain from misidentifying his ethnic origin, stating emphatically that he is not Hausa but a “typical Nigerian.”
Speaking on Saturday at the 16th convocation ceremony of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Igbariam, Anambra State, where he was formally installed as Chancellor, Kukah clarified that he hails from Anchuna in the Ikulu Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
“I am a typical Nigerian, but not a Hausa man by origin,” Kukah said, urging citizens to move beyond ethnic assumptions and embrace a more inclusive national identity.
The respected cleric used the occasion to commend Anambra State’s sustained investment in education, describing it as a critical pathway to national development. He also charged the graduating students to uphold integrity and good character as they step into the next phase of their lives.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who performed the investiture ceremony, praised Kukah’s appointment, noting that his “wisdom, experience, and moral leadership” would strengthen the university’s vision and academic standing.
Soludo also announced a ₦4 million cash reward for the overall best graduating student, Somtochukwu Augustus Ume of the Economics Department, who graduated with a 4.85 CGPA. In addition, the governor awarded scholarships to 37 first-class graduates to pursue postgraduate studies.
Addressing the graduands, Soludo urged them to rise above mediocrity and contribute meaningfully to society. He emphasised the need for institutions to produce “problem-solvers rather than mere enumerators,” while encouraging the students to become “beacons of hope, disruptive thinkers, and agents of change.”
The ceremony drew dignitaries from across the country and underscored COOU’s commitment to academic excellence and nation-building.
