The University of Jos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the reversal of the mother-tongue policy in favour of the English language by the federal government.

Jurbe Mwolwus, the chairperson of the union at the university, said this during a news conference on Monday in Jos.

Mr Mwolwus insisted that the use of the English language for early childhood education was retrogressive, adding that the move was a great loss of past gains rooted in research.

“ASUU in the University of Jos opposes the reversal and insists that using local languages for instruction is a standard and best practice in technologically advanced nations like China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, among others.

“Children before the age of eight have been found to be able to master six or more languages without hampering their cognitive development,” he said.

The chairperson called on the federal government to reconsider its decision in order to ensure proper early childhood development in Nigeria.

Mr Mwolwus also faulted the government’s plan to establish a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the Transnational Education framework (TNE).

“ASUU sees TNE as another platform to further undermine and underdevelop the country’s education for the personal benefit of a few Nigerians and their foreign collaborators.

“ASUU is calling on the government to make our universities globally competitive to attract foreign students and scholars, or retain tested local brains, instead of embracing the recolonisation of our education,” Mr Mwolwus said.

The chairperson also faulted the move by the Federal Ministry of Education to scrap some courses in the university system.

He described the claim by the ministry that some courses, particularly in the social sciences and humanities, were “irrelevant” and compounding unemployment issues in Nigeria as “unfortunate”.

“We make bold to say that every course in the university has its utilitarian values, both in personal and societal spheres.

“After all, skills, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication and digital literacy are laid by the so-called irrelevant courses like philosophy, religious studies, linguistics and fine arts, among others.

“By the way, is it only graduates of the social sciences and humanities that are unemployed in Nigeria? So, ASUU rejects any attempt to scrap academic programmes in Nigerian universities. We call on the government to rather create an enabling environment for industries to grow and create more employment opportunities,” he said.

Mr Mwolwus also advised the federal government to desist from irregular appointments, misappropriation of funds and disregard for due process in universities.

(NAN)

In a league season where survival often depends on experience, money, and consistency, few stories capture the spirit of resilience better than the dramatic escape of Kun Khalifat FC in the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign.

At one point in the season, relegation looked almost inevitable for the Owerri-based side. Results were poor, confidence was low, and many observers believed KKFC lacked the squad depth needed to survive the brutality of the NPFL.

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But football has a way of rewarding courage, smart planning, and bold decisions.

What followed in the second stanza of the season was nothing short of extraordinary.

The Turning Point That Changed Everything

The biggest gamble came during the mid-season transfer window when KKFC owner Micheal Ahamefula made a decision many supporters initially questioned.

Rather than hold on emotionally to key players, he sanctioned the sale of three important squad members to Barau FC:
Ebuka Nwokorie
Henry Ezeonye
Uche Moses

The transfer reportedly brought in about ₦15 million in sign-on fees.
For many struggling NPFL clubs, that money could easily disappear into operational expenses. But Ahamefula had a different vision.

Instead of panicking in the market for expensive stars, he returned to the football streets of Owerri , searching for hungry, overlooked, and ambitious talents desperate for an opportunity. That decision ultimately saved KKFC’s season.

The Street Recruitment Strategy That Worked

From local football circles and lesser-known setups emerged a new wave of players who transformed Kun Khalifat FC’s campaign:

Uchechukwu Onuoha
Chijoke Ejiogu
James Ekebuike
Ebuka James
Mmesoma Nnorom
What looked like low-profile recruitment soon became one of the smartest rebuilding projects of the NPFL season.

The new arrivals brought hunger, energy, fearlessness, and tactical balance to a side fighting for survival.

Uchechukwu Onuoha Became the Symbol of Survival

No player represented KKFC’s great escape more than striker Uchechukwu Onuoha.
Signed during the second half of the season, the forward exploded into form at exactly the right moment.

Onuoha scored eight goals in the second stanza alone, becoming the attacking spark that reignited KKFC’s survival hopes.

His movement, finishing, and ability to score under pressure gave the club belief during the most difficult weeks of the campaign.
Every survival story needs a hero.

For KKFC, that hero was Onuoha.

The Supporting Cast That Delivered Under Pressure

While Onuoha grabbed the headlines, survival was also built on collective effort.

James Ekebuike contributed crucial goals after joining mid-season, adding attacking depth and relieving pressure from the frontline. His four-goal contribution proved vital in tight fixtures.

Creative midfielder Mmesoma Nnorom provided key assists and attacking intelligence, helping KKFC become more dangerous in transition during the closing stages of the season.

At the back, veteran goalkeeper Chijoke Ejiogu brought leadership, composure, and experience. In several must-win encounters, his saves preserved valuable points that eventually kept the club afloat.

These were not superstar signings.
They were simply players who arrived with purpose.

The Five-Game Run That Saved Their NPFL Status

When the pressure became unbearable, KKFC produced their best football of the season.

The club went unbeaten in their final five matches, picking up an astonishing 13 points from a possible 15.
That remarkable run completely altered the relegation picture.

At a stage where every mistake could have sent them down, Kun Khalifat FC suddenly became one of the most difficult teams to beat in the league.

The confidence returned. The goals arrived. The belief spread through the squad.

And by the end of the campaign, the same club many had already written off completed one of the most impressive survival escapes of the NPFL season.

Micheal Ahamefula’s Midas Touch

Football survival is often discussed in tactical terms, but KKFC’s escape also became a lesson in football management and investment.

Micheal Ahamefula understood something many club owners fail to recognize — smart recruitment can outweigh expensive recruitment.

He sold assets at the right time, reinvested wisely, trusted grassroots scouting, and rebuilt a competitive squad without reckless spending.

That strategy changed the destiny of the club.
Now, the reward may extend beyond survival itself.

Bigger Clubs Are Already Circling

The performances of KKFC’s second-stanza recruits have reportedly attracted attention across the Nigerian football scene.

As many as nine Kun Khalifat FC players are now being monitored by bigger clubs ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Ironically, the same survival battle that nearly destroyed the club could soon become a financial breakthrough.

If KKFC successfully cash in on these emerging talents, owner Micheal Ahamefula may once again smile to the bank — proving that proper football investment is not always about spending more, but spending wisely.

More Than Survival

Kun Khalifat FC’s 2025/2026 campaign will not simply be remembered as a relegation escape story.

It was a season that demonstrated the power of scouting, courage, calculated risks, and belief in grassroots talent.

While bigger clubs chased expensive solutions, KKFC went back to the streets of Owerri and found players hungry enough to save a football club.
In the end, that hunger became their greatest weapon.