Alumni, students, and concerned citizens of Borno State have voiced strong opposition to the Federal Government’s decision to rename the University of Maiduguri after former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The renaming was announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during an expanded Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, July 17, 2025. According to President Tinubu, the move was aimed at immortalising the late President Buhari for his contributions to Nigeria.
However, the decision has sparked widespread disapproval from the university community and other stakeholders, who argue that the University of Maiduguri represents far more than just a name. In a public petition currently circulating online, they described the institution as a beacon of resilience, academic excellence, and cultural identity — especially given its role in sustaining higher education in Nigeria’s insurgency-hit North-East region.
The petition states:
“The University of Maiduguri is a symbol of hope and perseverance. Its name carries decades of academic heritage, regional pride, and national relevance. Changing it undermines the legacy that thousands of alumni and students deeply cherish.”
They recommended instead that President Buhari’s legacy could be honoured by renaming alternative institutions more personally or symbolically connected to him. Specifically, they proposed the Federal University of Transportation in Daura — Buhari’s hometown — or the Nigerian Army University in Biu, which aligns with his military background.
So far, over 9,000 individuals have signed the petition within 48 hours, indicating significant grassroots support for the reversal of the decision.
The appeal adds:
“This is not a political protest, but a passionate plea to preserve the institutional identity of UNIMAID while finding a more suitable means to honour former President Buhari’s legacy.”
Stakeholders trust that President Tinubu will consider the sentiments of the institution’s community and act in the interest of unity and continuity.
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