Adebayo Adenrele
THE Adamawa State College of Nursing and Midwifery has suspended her admissions, after some Muslims in the state protested against the payment of parts of the admission fees into a microfinance bank owned by a church.
NEWSTODAYNG recalled that the school had directed applicants to pay the sum of N500 professional fee meant for the state Nursing and Midwifery Council into an account opened in the Brethren Microfinance Bank in Yola, the state capital, where the school is also located.
All applicants must also pay N5,715 for the admission form. The payment for the admission form was to be paid in other banks.
But some Muslims, led by one Shehu Ismail, protested the school management’s decision to use the bank owned by church to collect the Nursing and Midwifery Council fee.
The group claimed the payment would increase the bank’s financial strength.
Besides, they said the school’s decision to use the bank smacked off “a gradual Christianisation of the state structures”.
Their statement read in part, “Our findings revealed that the Brethren Microfinance Bank Ltd, with the office address at No 1, EYN headquarters, Kwarshi, Adamawa State, was incorporated in Yola, the state capital, with registration number 1423616. It was registered on 07 July 2017, and its current status is unknown.”
“As the church’s establishment, through the bank, EYN will give the church some financial strength and grant the youth scholarships, capital, and the likes.”
“This is unacceptable as the EYN will not accept any bank established by an Islamic organisation or the Mosque to be patronised by public institutions in a plural religious state like Adamawa.”
“We are hereby calling on those who can reach out to the Adamawa state governor to let him address our misgivings. We suspect as gradual Christianisation of the state structures.”
On her part, the school provost, Lami Aminu, confirmed the group’s action and the suspension of the admission.
“The issue is simple. There’s no crisis, except for those that didn’t really understand. On this (admission) committee, we have a board comprising people from both religions. They agreed that they would use that bank. That was exactly what happened.”
“When students started paying, it was a professional fee. Is there any problem there? People interpret things the way they want. That is just what is happening. We have debunked it. I have suspended the admission.”
“The professional fee is used to maintain the Nursing and Midwifery Committee at the state level. It’s not for the bank. How will it be for the bank?”