University of Maiduguri Alumni, students reject renaming institution

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Alumni, students, and concerned citizens from Borno State have strongly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s decision to rename the University of Maiduguri after former President Muhammadu Buhari.

During an expanded Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, July 17, 2025, President Tinubu announced that the University would now bear Buhari’s name in honour of his contributions to the country.

However, stakeholders have expressed outrage, stating that the University of Maiduguri represents more than a name — it symbolises resilience, academic excellence, and cultural identity, especially in a region that has endured years of insecurity and insurgency.

In a petition that has already gathered over 9,000 signatures in just 48 hours, alumni and student groups called for the reversal of the renaming, urging President Tinubu to consider other institutions more closely linked to Buhari’s background.

They suggested that either the Federal University of Transportation, Daura — located in Buhari’s hometown — or the Nigerian Army University, Biu, reflecting his military heritage, would be more suitable institutions to carry his name.

“UNIMAID is not just a university — it’s a symbol of survival, growth, and academic prominence in the North-East,” the petition reads.

The petitioners stressed that this appeal is not political but rather an emotional and historical one. They argue that preserving the name “University of Maiduguri” maintains a legacy of academic continuity and national service, while President Buhari can still be honoured through alternative monuments, research centres, or infrastructure projects.

“Let us honour the legacy of both UNIMAID and Buhari without erasing the identity of either,” they wrote.

The public appeal concludes with a plea to President Tinubu to act in fairness and uphold national unity by engaging all relevant stakeholders before finalising such a consequential decision.