By Rosheedat Akinkunle, JKNewsMedia Reporter
A GROWING wave of opposition has greeted the renaming of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) to Muhammadu Buhari University by President Bola Tinubu, as alumni, students, and residents of Borno State condemn the move as insensitive and politically motivated.
Announced during a special session of the Federal Executive Council on 17 July 2025, the decision has fuelled backlash from within the university and across the country.
Critics argue that the renaming disregards the sentiments of the host community and stakeholders who view the institution as a symbol of resilience, particularly in a region that has endured prolonged insurgency.
Petitions demanding a reversal have gained swift traction online, with nearly 9,000 signatories amassed within two days.
Many are urging the president to consider alternatives such as the Federal University of Transportation in Daura or the Nigerian Army University in Biu- -both of which share deeper historical and regional ties to the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
The petition, signed by alumni, students, and concerned citizens, stressed that while Buhari’s contributions to Nigeria are recognised, the University of Maiduguri has, over four decades, built a distinct identity rooted in academic excellence and peacebuilding.
The signatories called on President Tinubu to explore more fitting ways to honour Buhari’s legacy without erasing the university’s heritage.
The statement read in part: “The University of Maiduguri is more than just a name. It symbolises resilience, academic excellence, and cultural heritage… We respectfully request that Your Excellency reconsider and reverse the renaming.”
This is not the first time Nigerians have protested the renaming of major institutions after political figures.
The December 2024 renaming of the University of Abuja after Yakubu Gowon drew heavy criticism, as did last month’s decision by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to rename The Polytechnic, Ibadan after Omololu Olunloyo.
In 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan was forced to reverse plans to rename the University of Lagos after Moshood Abiola due to public outrage—a move then opposed by Tinubu himself.
At the University of Maiduguri, resistance has also come from within.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter strongly condemned the move, describing it as an “affront” to the institution’s legacy. ASUU Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Mshelia Saidu, labelled the decision “politically motivated” and said it threatened to erase decades of academic tradition.
The union vowed to mobilise against the renaming, noting that it coincides with the university’s preparations to mark its 50th anniversary under the globally recognised UNIMAID identity.
“This action is not merely shocking; it desecrates the sanctity of our alma mater,” the ASUU statement read. “Our response will be unequivocal, forceful, and commanding.”
Calls for the federal government to reverse the decision are growing louder as legal analysts also raise questions over the constitutionality of renaming a federal institution without National Assembly consultation.
The controversy has further inflamed broader debates around naming public institutions after political figures, with stakeholders urging greater stakeholder engagement and public consensus before such monumental decisions are taken.
