Unity Schools alumni organize nationwide protest over FGC Kano land concession dispute after Abuja talks collapse

Precious Ugwuzor

Over the weekend, hundreds of alumni of the Federal Government Colleges—commonly known as Unity Schools—held solidarity rallies in Kano, Lagos and Abuja to protest the Federal Ministry of Education’s decision to grant a concession of more than 30 hectares of land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC) Kano to the private firm Pluck Global Services.

The demonstrators, organized under the Unity Schools Old Students’ Association (USOSA), said the concession threatens the school’s future and pledged to oppose it.

The rallies, which drew representatives from more than 40 Unity Schools across the country, followed a conciliatory meeting with Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa that reportedly ended without an agreement last week. Alumni leaders said the Ministry maintained that the public‑private partnership with Pluck Global Services would go ahead.

USOSA members recounted that the discussion with the Minister began cordially but grew tense after government officials insisted the concession was irreversible.

“Entering that room, we believed we had a listening ear. We laid out our fears: that this is not just about land, but about the soul of our Unity Schools,” John Duru told the crowd. “We left with the clear understanding that the Minister is determined to proceed. Therefore, this walk is a declaration that we will not be silent while our children’s heritage is auctioned off.”

Sources within the alumni body said the Ministry defended the concession as part of a broader infrastructure revitalisation programme. USOSA leaders countered that no feasibility study had been conducted to justify handing over a 30‑hectare portion of land originally earmarked for sports facilities, agricultural science projects and future expansion.

Carrying placards that read “FGC Kano is Not for Sale,” “Revoke the Concession, Save Our Schools,” and “Hands Off Our Heritage,” the protesters marched through key locations in Lagos, Abuja and Kano amid a heavy security presence and growing public attention.

An emotional moment occurred when current students of FGC Kano gathered by the school fence to wave at the alumni as the procession passed. Retired General Abdulrasheed Lawal of the 1983 set of FGC Kaduna, who led the march, said the students symbolised generations of Nigerians who could lose valuable recreational and educational space if the concession proceeds.

“Pluck Global Services has not explained whether this will be a hotel, a shopping complex, or an office park. We don’t care. What we know is that a federal school sits here,” Lawal said.

The demonstrators demanded the immediate and unconditional cancellation of the concession agreement, warning that they could shut down Unity School gates nationwide if the Ministry does not revoke the deal within 14 days.

USOSA leaders emphasised that the Unity Schools system was created to promote national integration by bringing together children from different parts of the country under a single educational framework.

“We have representatives from Federal Government College Ido Ani, Federal Government College Odogbolu, Okigwe, Port Harcourt, Ikot Ekpene, Queens College Lagos, and 37 others standing here today. This is a united front,” said Humphrey Nwafor, National Chapter President, Lagos. “We are not enemies of development, but this development must not choke the school. Cancel the deal.”

At press time, the Federal Ministry of Education had not issued an official statement on the rallies. A senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Ministry remained committed to modernising Unity Schools through private‑sector investment and insisted that “no concrete structure will be built on the students’ play fields.”

USOSA leaders dismissed the assurance as “semantic trickery,” arguing that the proposed concession would cover almost the entire undeveloped portion of the school’s land.

In a message of appreciation, the Global President of FGC Kano, Shoyinka Shodunke, thanked the participating Unity Schools for standing in solidarity with the college.

The alumni also vowed to take their campaign to the National Assembly and the Presidency, insisting that the struggle to protect the land and legacy of Unity Schools is far from over.