Statement by Concerned UNIMAID Alumni Association/Friends of UNIMAID Rejecting the Renaming of the University of Maiduguri after Late President Muhammadu Buhari.

We, the members of the Concerned UNIMAID Alumni Association/Friends of UNIMAID, unequivocally reject the recent announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rename the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. 

UNIMAID is a legacy institution that has stood the test of time, serving as a beacon of academic excellence, resilience, and intellectual growth in Nigeria’s Northeast for decades. Established in 1975, it has weathered numerous challenges, including insurgency and economic hardships, to produce generations of leaders, scholars, and professionals who have contributed immensely to national development.

Renaming this prestigious citadel of learning for apparent political gain is not only condemnable but also undermines the university’s hard-earned identity and historical significance.

While we acknowledge the contributions of the late President Buhari to Nigeria, we firmly believe there are better and more appropriate ways to honor his legacy than attaching his name to an established institution like UNIMAID. Options such as establishing a new university, a research center, or a national monument in his name would preserve his memory without erasing the unique heritage of an existing entity.

UNIMAID’s slogan, “If you want to be made, enter UNIMAID,” encapsulates its transformative essence and has become a rallying cry for aspiring students nationwide. Altering the name would dilute this iconic tag, which symbolizes the university’s role in molding character, championing innovation, and building futures, attributes that should remain untarnished by political expediency.

We draw parallels to a similar attempt in 2012 when former President Goodluck Jonathan sought to rename the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after the late Chief MKO Abiola, the hero of the June 12 struggle.

Southwesterners, including students, alumni, and the public, vehemently rejected this move, leading to widespread protests and its eventual reversal.

If a region could reject the renaming of a school in honor of one of their most illustrious sons, then we in the Northeast have every right to reject this Greek gift imposed on UNIMAID. Our opposition is not a dismissal of Buhari’s achievements but a defense of institutional autonomy and cultural preservation.

We call on President Tinubu to reconsider this decision and engage in consultations with stakeholders, including alumni, students, faculty, and the host community. UNIMAID belongs to all Nigerians, and its name should reflect its enduring legacy, not fleeting political alliances.

Signed:

Concerned UNIMAID Alumni Association/Friends of UNIMAID