The Hausa Ethnic Stakeholders Forum (HESFO) has expressed deep concern and outright rejection of the recently approved 2025/2026 JAMB (UTME) admission cut-off points released by Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto. Of particular concern is the removal of the Hausa language from the university’s academic programmes, reportedly replaced by Fulfulde.
In a strongly worded statement, HESFO described the exclusion as a “deliberate cultural, linguistic, and political affront” to the identity of the Hausa people, who represent over 80% of Sokoto State’s population and for whom Sokoto is a historical and cultural stronghold.
The forum further stated that such a decision undermines the heritage of the region and marginalises the Hausa community, which has historically contributed to the socio-political foundation of the state. The replacement of Hausa with Fulfulde, they argue, sends a troubling signal about the priorities and direction of educational policy in the state.
HESFO called out key political and traditional authorities, including the Sultan of Sokoto and the state’s governor, holding them accountable for what the group sees as either active participation in or passive tolerance of this “calculated marginalisation.”
“The Hausa language is not merely a medium of communication,” the statement said, “it is a vessel of centuries of scholarship, diplomacy, commerce, and cultural identity. To exclude it from an institution of higher learning located in its heartland is not only inappropriate but also a dangerous attempt to rewrite history.”
The forum is demanding the immediate reinstatement of Hausa language into the university’s course offerings, alongside Fulfulde if necessary. It warned that failure to reverse the decision would confirm fears of a broader agenda to diminish Hausa identity within the political and educational frameworks of Sokoto State.
HESFO concluded by affirming its readiness to pursue all legal, civic, and political avenues to protect the dignity and rights of the Hausa people, stating: “We will not remain silent in the face of any effort to erase our language, our history, or our future.”
