Following the pronouncement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rename the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) to late Nigeria leader, Muhammadu Buhari University (MBU), many Nigerians have taken to their social media handles to air their views over the development.
BusinessDay findings show that the late Muhammadu Buhari’s mother hailed from Kukawa Local Government Area of the Borno State. Interestingly, Buhari served twice as military governor of north eastern state then later Borno State both with headquarters in Maiduguri.
Some argued that naming an institution after a national figure is not confined to geographical boundaries. President Buhari’s legacy of resilience, discipline, prudent leadership, and unwavering commitment to national unity aligns with the University of Maiduguri’s decade-long endurance amid 16 years of insecurity.
Those who are opposing the renaming of the University of Maiduguri in honour of Buhari argue that it was unnecessary since many public institutions had already been named after the former President, including the Maiduguri International Airport, Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Centre UMTH, Muhammadu Buhari Academy, and Muhammadu Buhari Senate Building (University of Maiduguri) all in Borno State, even though there are two federal universities in his home state.
Read also: Tinubu renames University of Maiduguri after Buhari
Some have pointed out that second generation universities named after prominent figures from their regions include Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi; Aminu Ado Bayero University of Kano, Usman Danfodio University Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Akwa.
However, many believed strongly that late Buhari’s contributions to Borno State and the North East region cannot be overemphasized. Notably, his administration’s efforts to combat insurgency, including the relocation of the Military Command, and Control Centre to Borno, has significantly reduced the threat of terrorism in the region.
Fortunately, the establishment of Nigeria Army University, North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the 50MW Emergency Gas Power Plant, flagged off to resume Oil Exploration in Yadi in Tuba ward in Jere council area, approved of 10,000 resettlement houses in Borno state, establishment Federal Polytechnic, Monguno, and Federal College Education Gwoza for Borno are testaments to his commitment to the region’s development.
Renaming UniMaid is not in error
Umaru Lawan Dalorima, Borno State commissioner for finance wrote on his timeline: “The University of Maiduguri, located in a region deeply affected by insurgency, to be linked with a national figure of Buhari’s stature is a privilege. It ties the institution’s identity to a man who demonstrated resilience in adversity, something the University itself has done for decades amidst security challenges. His legacy reflects austere leadership, respect for national resources, and a deep commitment to Nigeria’s unity, ideals which are fundamental to shaping young minds and producing future leaders.”
He noted that it was important, however, to recognise that some critics might argue against renaming the university, citing political undertones, emotional disconnect from Buhari’s administration and perceived undermining of the institution’s long history and academic traditions.
According to Dalorima, “While these sentiments are valid in a democratic setting, they should not overshadow the broader significance of institutional development over nomenclature. The core focus should remain the enhancement of educational quality, research excellence, and regional development, which should not be seen as mutually exclusive with a name change.
“Moreover, renaming is not in error and does not erase the quality of the institution. The identity and contributions of the University of Maiduguri remain intact; the new name rather elevates its profile, attracting national attention and possibly opening doors to greater federal support, partnerships, and academic investment under a name associated with discipline and reform. Hence, this does not require a prolonged debate.”
A weak political calculus
Jiddah M.A. Ajjayi, a financial analyst, said it’s incontestable that the government can act as it deemed appropriate, adding however, that renaming UniMaid after Buhari was hasty, illogical, unaligned, politically naive and devoid of historical fairness and bereft of wider consultation, thus unhealthy.
He further said that in Borno State, Buhari had already been immortalised severally by naming the biggest and best international airport in the Northeast, and some schools after him. He noted that even within the UniMaid- the Senate Building was named after him some time ago- this is reasonable enough from the university and indeed Borno State.
There are many other universities that ought to have been renamed in his immortalisation process. By the way, his relationship with university education cannot be said to have been cordial. Political scores should not be settled on the altar of educational integrity.
“We have other universities in Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi, and his hometown such as the Transport University Daura and the one in Dutsinma. Looking at his military background the NDA, Airforce University, the Army University in Biu are aligned to his background not UniMaid,” he said.
Read also: A life of conviction: Honoring ex-President Muhammadu Buhari
UniMaid bigger than any politician
Blessing Tunoh, journalists and UniMaid Alumnus, queried why the choice of Borno at this point?
“Today, almost everything in that state is named after him. You can also change your name to MB. It is a lack of creativity to think the only way to honour the dead is by renaming institutions. The UNIMAID brand is bigger than any politician!”
Unimaid Alumni reject renaming
The University of Maiduguri Association, Abuja, FCT Chapter of Unimaid Connect also issued a stern warning and flatly rejected the renaming of the University to Muhammadu Buhari University.
According to the group, “Universities are established by Acts of the National Assembly and no one can change that with simple pronouncement of FEC as if we are in a military era.
“If the President, VP and all the FEC members are so much in love to immortalise the late president, then let them start a fresh institution, or rather name the moribund International Cancer Centre lying waste on the Abuja Airport Expressway after him and start working to turn it into centre of excellence.”
The group noted that Professor Jibril Aminu who was the brain behind the branding and capacity sourcing of the Institution just passed away few months ago and no one mentioned his name. He went to globally rated universities across the world and brought back all the “A” rated professors to the University.
“The most resourceful, peaceful, and influential late Shehu of Borno passed on and no one suggested the renaming of the University after him, because there are other institutions named in the state already after Elkanemi.”
They added that the New Senate Building of the University of Maiduguri is already named after the late president, and most of the FEC members were unaware of such. “Yet, by a simple pronouncement like military rule, you want to change a legacy of many decades,” they said.
The group has said that it would approach the court and demand a restraint order. They said, “If you like as president, use your rubber-stamp Senate and alter the Act that established the University. This is democracy not military rule.”
It creates confusion
Abubakar Sadiq, an Alumnus warned that the renaming of the University of Maiduguri remained a miscalculated and ill-advised decision by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which poses a great risk, creating significant confusion and administrative challenges for many Alumni when it comes to opportunities globally.
He urged the Alumni to sign petition against President Tinubu for renaming the prestigious institution, warning that the challenges that come with renaming institutions are enormous and that they must reject it in totality.
He noted also that such a change can disrupt the institution’s established identity and reputation, potentially affecting the value and recognition of its degrees both locally and internationally. More critically, the inconsistency between the names on transcripts and certificates could pose serious difficulties for graduates.
“Some years back, I had friends that lost opportunities just because of transcript and certificate mismatch from other universities that experienced change of name. This mismatch causes unnecessary delay which leads to a pain for a whole lifetime,” Sadiq said.
“This similar story will be among the challenges that lies ahead of us as alumni of the prestigious university of Maiduguri. Without careful planning and robust transitional procedures, these negative implications could outweigh any perceived benefit of the renaming; we are saying no to the change of name of our university,” he said.
Read also: Buhari’s commitment to education prompted renaming UNIMAID after him — FG
We have never recovered from trauma of 8-month salary withhold by Buhari
Some lecturers lamented and condemned the moves, noting that many great universities around the world preserve their unique identities, which are the source of inspiration, history, traditions, culture, excellence, and all other values that they are known for over the decades.
They noted that death of presidents is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, as other international reputable universities like Harvard University, Oxford, Cambridge and a host of others have never done such flippant name change.
“What is wrong with our politicians? Must they politicise everything? Did Buhari deem it fit to rename a university after the late Shehu Shagari? We won’t fold our arms to allow them destroy our education sector. You can’t just wake up and make a pronouncement as if we do not matter in this country,” a lecturer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
The lecturer described what Tinubu has done as a purely political gimmick as he “is trying every means to get votes from the North West region by sacrificing the long history of UniMaid.”
According to the lecturer, “This has nothing to do with immortalised Muhammadu Buhari, it is pure political game. Because Tinubu knows Kastina has a lot of votes. Buhari’s tenure witnessed a very long strike of 10 months without paying the lecturers. Many are yet to recover from the trauma. Does Buhari care about education? The answer is no. How many lecturers lost their lives under the Buhari administration?
“During his tenure, a lot of lecturers died, he left without paying the lecturers, and he is still owing us eight months. So, can you immortalise someone who hates the education sector? He tried to destroy the education sector by approving the highest private universities in the history of Nigeria. So, you can’t name a university after someone who did not care about the nation’s educational sector.”
