FCT Schools not linked to religious Indoctrination – FCTA
By: Prudence Okonna
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has dismissed reports on social media that certain schools in the Territory are involved in religious indoctrination.
This was contained in a press release signed by the Head of Information/ Public Relations Unit, Education Secretariat, Kabiru Musa, and made available to the press in Abuja.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Education Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has been drawn to a misleading and malicious voice note circulating in Hausa, purporting that students in FCT Schools are being indoctrinated into a particular religion against their wishes.
The FCT Education Secretariat, therefore, wishes to categorically state that the claims in the said audio are false, baseless, and deliberately misleading”.
According to Musa, further investigations by the Education Secretariat revealed that the areas and school locations mentioned in the voice note are not in the Federal Capital Territory.
“They do not exist on any official map of the FCT. Findings clearly show that these locations are situated in Mararaba, a town in neighbouring Nasarawa State, approximately 20 to 25 kilometers from Abuja City Centre,” the statement added.
The schools mentioned are GSS Mararaba, GSS Bakin Ado, GJSS Kurunduma, GSS Kurunduma, as well as ‘Aunty Alice School’.
Musa also emphasised that FCT Schools are strictly secular institutions where students of all faiths co-exist peacefully.
He also added that the FCT Administration guarantees the freedom of worship and upholds the rights of every child to learn in an environment free from religious discrimination or compulsion.
He equally emphasized that teachers and school administrators are highly trained professionals who operate strictly within the bounds of professional ethics and codes of conduct and are dedicated to nurturing students into disciplined, responsible citizens without bias or prejudice.
The PRO noted that under the focused and visionary leadership of the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the development of education in the FCT, has been placed on the front burner.
Adding that, the ongoing massive renovation, reconstruction, and accelerated rehabilitation of schools, coupled with the provision of infrastructure and ICT facilities across all six area councils, is a testament to his unwavering commitment.
He also said that the FCT Education Secretariat, under the watchful supervision of the Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, and his Management Team, has continued to implement a robust monitoring and feedback mechanism to ensure that FCT Schools remain centres of excellence, discipline, and inclusiveness.
“Let it be clearly stated that such divisive and harmful narratives aimed at destabilizing our Education System and creating religious tension will not be tolerated. The FCTA reserves the right to take legal and administrative action against individuals or groups propagating such falsehoods against its schools or Territory”, he added.
The statement therefore urges the public, media, and stakeholders to disregard the viral voice note in its entirety and to rely only on verified information from official FCTA sources.
