By Obike Ukoh
The renaming of educational institutions after prominent politicians, especially after their death, is becoming a tradition in Nigeria.
Indeed, almost all the frontline politicians of the First Republic have tertiary institutions named after them, either by the Federal Government or state governments.
All the premiers of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, all have universities named after them.
The University of Ife, which was later renamed Obafemi Awolowo University, was built by the Western Region Government.
In the old Eastern Region, the Nnamdi Azikikwe University, Awka and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, were named after Nnamdi Azikiwe and Michael Okpara, respectively.
Indeed, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, would have been named after Nnamdi Azikiwe, but during his lifetime, he made it clear, he did not want the university to be named after him.
In the defunct Northern Region, the two political heavyweights from the area, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, then Prime Minister and Ahmadu Bello, then Premier of the Northern Region all have universities named after them.
Today, public universities named after prominent politicians dot all parts of the country.
Ironically, these institutions are not named after anybody on commencement of academic studies, but are renamed after many years, as a way of immortalizing the deceased.
The latest of this tradition was the renaming of the University of Maiduguri (UniMaid), which was established in 1975, but commenced academic programmes in October 1976.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the renaming at a Special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, held in late President Muhammadu Buhari on July 17.
The renaming, however, did not go down well with some stakeholders of the university.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UniMaid Chapter, did not hide their disapproval of President Bola Tinubu’s action, to rename the institution after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Mshelia Saidu, the union described the decision as “politically motivated and a brazen affront to the university’s legacy, history, and academic integrity.
“This action is not merely shocking; it desecrates the sanctity of our alma mater.”
The UniMaid ASUU chapter, lamented that, it is regrettable that the renaming is coming at a time “the university prepares to mark its 50th anniversary under the widely respected ‘UniMaid’ identity.’’
According to ASUU, the decision amounts to sacrificing the institution’s hard-earned reputation for political patronage.
The union stressed that “public outrage is mounting, and ASUU’s response would be unequivocal, forceful, and commanding.”
The union also called for collective resistance, emphasizing that it will respond intellectually and factually, and urged members and the public to contribute views ahead of upcoming deliberations.
“We must articulate our adamant opposition and demand the immediate reversal of this ill-conceived and deeply offensive decision,” ASUU declared.
Also, alumni, students and other concerned indigenes of Borno State are opposed to the renaming.
In fact, the groups opposing the decision, have generated a petition in which about 9,000 signatories were allegedly garnered within 48 hours.
The petitioners stressed the need to reverse the decision and preserve the university’s original name, which they describe as a “symbol of resilience, academic excellence, and cultural heritage.”
In the petition, stakeholders emphasized that the University of Maiduguri has stood as a beacon of hope and intellectual advancement, especially during times of insecurity in the North-East.
They argued that the name “UniMaid” carries emotional significance and has earned a strong reputation locally and internationally.
“This institution is not just a university, it is a monument to survival, peace-building, and excellence. Changing its name risks erasing decades of identity and pride,” the petition stated.
The stakeholders noted that the institution, established over four decades ago, has produced thousands of leaders, academics, diplomats, and professionals who proudly associate with the UniMaid name. They insist that this identity should be preserved and protected.
They said that they have great respect for the legacies of the late President, but listed institutions that can deservedly be renamed after him.
According to them, the institutions are more closely linked to his personal history and background.
They are: Federal University of Transportation, Daura, located in Buhari’s hometown in Katsina State; Nigerian Army University, Biu, reflecting Buhari’s background as a former military officer, among others.
The stakeholders said that acceptance of their suggestion would honour Buhari’s legacy without disrupting the historical and cultural significance of the University of Maiduguri.
They appealed to President Tinubu to uphold national unity and stakeholders’ consultation in matters of such emotional and historical weight.
“Preserving the name University of Maiduguri is not a political stance; it is a heartfelt plea for continuity and respect for the identity of a beloved institution.
“We believe a more fitting tribute to President Buhari can be achieved without sacrificing the legacy of UniMaid.”
The signatories expressed faith in President Tinubu’s leadership and urged him to demonstrate fairness and wisdom by reconsidering the renaming decision.
Also, one Dr Umar Ardo, who commented on the issue, wrote inter alia: “President Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to rename the University of Maiduguri Muhammadu Buhari University, in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has raised fundamental questions regarding its logic, appropriateness and historical justice.
“While the gesture may appear symbolic on the surface, a critical examination exposes its lack of intellectual, cultural and moral grounding.
First and foremost, Muhammadu Buhari was a career military officer and a politician, not an academic, educationist, or intellectual in any public sense.
His legacy, whether praised or criticized, is rooted in his military career, his ascension to the presidency and his distinct governing style marked by authoritarian tendencies and economic conservatism, among others.
Renaming a university, a citadel of learning, knowledge, research and intellectualism, after someone whose relationship with academia is at best peripheral, if not outright tenuous, dilutes the institution’s identity and purpose.
Universities are ideally named after figures whose lives and legacies exemplify educational values, critical thinking, nation-building through scholarship or transformative contributions to education policy.
“In this regard, Buhari’s record does not resonate with such ideals. The naming of the university after him is thus a clear mismatch between legacy and institutional identity.
Instructively, the University of Maiduguri is neither situated in Buhari’s home state of Katsina nor his geopolitical zone of the North-West. It is in Borno State, a region with its rich historical figures, political icons, and educational pioneers who could be more appropriately celebrated in a naming gesture.
Buhari did not attend, teach at, or found the University of Maiduguri. Nor did he demonstrate any special affinity or leave an indelible mark on the institution during his presidency.
“ In this light, the renaming appears arbitrary and lacking not only in cultural relevance to the host community, but also lacking in geographical and emotional relevance.
As the UniMaid renaming controversy rages on, commentators and analysts are quick to point out what played out when then President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 announced the renaming of University of Lagos, after Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election.
Prominent politicians from the South-West, Abiola’s geo-political zone, were in the forefront to oppose the renaming.
Incidentally, incumbent President Bola Tinubu, then Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, and other South-West top political players were among those who kicked against the renaming.
In a statement, Tinubu contended that though the President’s decision to rename the university after Abiola was welcome, it fell short of what was required.
He said: “We must congratulate the President for attempting to do it, but we say, do it right.
MKO was elected by the entire country, not just by the Yoruba. He was arrested and taken to Abuja. He was tried, incarcerated and eventually died in very controversial circumstances in Abuja under the custody of federal agents.
“Abiola’s mandate was a national mandate which he tried to reclaim. But we must be careful not to localise or sectionalise MKO.”
On his part, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, an alumnus of UNILAG, described Jonathan’s action “as an opportunistic recognition of the late winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.”
Whatever may be the case, the University of Lagos and University of Maiduguri scenarios shared some similarities.
The critical stakeholders opposed the renaming. The Jonathan administration listened and reversed the decision. Renaming a 50-year-old institution is like organizing a naming ceremony for a man who already had children and grandchildren.
Obike Ukoh, ex-Deputy Editor-In-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
