A wave of controversy has swept across Nigeria following President Bola Tinubu’s announcement to rename the historic University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State as Muhammadu Buhari University. The decree, unveiled during an expanded Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, was framed as a tribute to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who died just days earlier after a long illness in London.
Tributes and Honours Amid Mourning
President Tinubu, flanked by national leaders and dignitaries, led a somber session at the Presidential Villa, applauding Buhari’s contributions to Nigeria’s unity and development. He described Buhari as “a good, decent, and honourable man whose moral force set a benchmark for leadership,” adding that “naming the university in Maiduguri after him is a token of national gratitude”.
At the same gathering, Buhari’s children appeared visibly moved, while the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, was absent. Tinubu and top political figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other state governors, hailed Buhari’s legacy of discipline and integrity. Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, issued a statement extolling Buhari’s impact on Nigeria’s education and infrastructure and calling the renaming a “fitting recognition”.
A Nation Divided: Mixed Reactions and Student Protests
However, the presidential gesture was met with backlash across social media and academic circles. By dawn, hashtags such as #SaveUNIMAID and #NotInOurName trended on X, as students, alumni, and activists expressed outrage at what they deemed an “imposed legacy.”
- Some cited Buhari’s polarizing record, claiming that the move “erases the struggles of UNIMAID students and staff who braved the insurgency decade.”
- Others argued that the North-East deserved investment, not “a mere renaming,” referencing Buhari’s security initiatives in the region but demanding more sustainable reforms.
Student leaders announced plans for peaceful demonstrations, vowing to occupy key campus gates. Alumni associations issued joint statements decrying the lack of consultation. Lecturers debated the broader symbolism of naming institutions after political leaders, recalling prior transitions that sparked long-term controversies.
Security Heightened as Implementation Begins
Following the initial announcement, security was intensified across Maiduguri and at the university campus. Federal and state authorities dispatched reinforcements in response to swelling crowds and calls for protests. The Ministry of Education confirmed that new signages and official documentation with the name “Muhammadu Buhari University” would be formally unveiled next week, though legal challenges were rumored to be under consideration by civil society groups.
Buhari’s Burial and International Attention
Meanwhile, Buhari’s burial in Daura was marked by tight security and dignitary attendance, including President Tinubu and a high-powered delegation from Niger. The solemn rites cast a shadow over the week’s developments, with mourners linking the university renaming to broader efforts at enshrining Buhari’s memory nationwide.
Reactions from Other Campuses and Federal Lawmakers
Across Nigeria, university unions and student bodies watched closely. Several lawmakers from southern and central states privately questioned the precedent set by “renaming major institutions without parliamentary debate.” Editorials in leading dailies wondered whether this signaled a new era of “political memorialization.”
Observers await Tinubu’s next step and the Ministry of Education’s timeline for implementation. Both supporters and critics agree: the renaming of UNIMAID is a flashpoint in Nigeria’s ongoing negotiation between legacy, history, and public sentiment.