Babatunji Wusu –
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ASUU University of Maiduguri chapter opposes President Tinubu’s decision to rename the institution after late President Muhammadu Buhari.
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The union calls the move “politically motivated” and a violation of the university’s legacy and academic credibility.
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The renaming, announced on July 17 during a Federal Executive Council meeting, has sparked widespread criticism.
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ASUU is mobilizing its members to resist the decision, emphasizing intellectual and factual opposition.
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The union warns of damaging the university’s reputation for political patronage ahead of its 50th anniversary.
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Critics highlight Buhari already has several institutions named after him, questioning the necessity and motives behind the renaming.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has firmly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s recent move to rename the university in honor of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. In a statement released on Saturday, ASUU’s UNIMAID Chairperson, Dr. Abubakar Mshelia Saidu, labeled the decision as “politically motivated” and a deliberate affront to the institution’s long-standing legacy, history, and academic integrity.
Announced at a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on July 17, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism both within the university community and from the broader public. The union is actively mobilizing its congress, veterans, and extended executive council to mount robust opposition against the renaming.
Describing the act as a desecration of their alma mater’s sanctity, ASUU stressed the importance of maintaining the university’s respected identity, particularly as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The union warned that the decision threatens to undermine UNIMAID’s hard-earned reputation by reducing it to a political tool.
Public outrage continues to grow, with ASUU committing to an “unequivocal, forceful, and commanding” response. The union urged its members and the public to contribute informed views ahead of formal discussions, emphasizing the importance of collective and reasoned resistance.
Established in 1975, UNIMAID is recognized as a leading federal university known for academic excellence despite persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s North-East. Critics of the renaming argue that Buhari’s legacy is already widely commemorated through multiple named institutions, particularly in Borno State, rendering this latest move both unnecessary and divisive.
