The Nigerian government has explained why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu decided to rename the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) after former President Muhammadu Buhari. The decision has received both praise and criticism from Nigerians.
In a statement released on Friday, the Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, said the renaming is a strong way to honour Buhari’s contributions to Nigeria’s growth.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, was posted on the ministry’s official X (Twitter) page.
“The Ministry of Education is proud that the education sector was chosen to carry the legacy of the late President,” Alausa said.
This announcement came shortly after a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in honour of Buhari, who died on July 13, 2023, in a clinic in London at the age of 82.
He was later buried in his hometown, Daura, in Katsina State, with a state funeral.
Some Nigerians supported the name change, calling it a deserved tribute to a man who once served as a military governor of Borno State and later as president of Nigeria. Others, however, questioned the decision to change the name of a university that is over 50 years old.
The Education Minister defended the move, saying it’s more than just a name change.
He listed some of Buhari’s achievements while in office from 2015 to 2023, including improvements in national security, anti-corruption efforts, infrastructure, agriculture, and human development. He also mentioned programs like the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, TSA, ERGP, and social investment schemes.
Alausa praised President Tinubu’s decision as a sign of “deep respect and empathy,” saying it shows Tinubu values education as key to national growth.
“President Tinubu is committed to developing human capital, just like President Buhari was,” Alausa said.
He added that the renaming is a way to highlight values such as service, integrity, and excellence—qualities that both Buhari and Tinubu represent.
