The University of Maiduguri as been renamed officially to Muhammadu Buhari University (MBU).
The reactions following this development are mixed as expected.
Reactions to the change from UNIMAID to MBU
Garba Shehu (Spokesperson to the Late former President) via X: “After a state burial like no other, the renaming of the University of Maiduguri after the late President Muhammadu Buhari is an honour well deserved. Heartening to see this happening in our lifetime in Nigeria. My personal view.”
Bashir Ahmad (Former Special Adviser to the former President) via X: “Renaming the prestigious University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) to Muhammadu Buhari University (MBU) by President Tinubu is a welcome development. No any state in Nigeria is more deeply intertwined with the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s public life and service than Borno State, from his early days as a military governor of the North-Eastern State in 1975, to commanding troops from Maiduguri to repel Chadian invaders in 1983. Borno is at the heart of Baba Buhari’s national legacy.”
Theo Abu via X: “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.
“We call on President Tinubu to reconsider this decision and engage in consultations with stakeholders, including alumni, students, faculty, and the host community.
“Signed:
Concerned UNIMAID Alumni
Association/Friends of UNIMAID “
Reno Omokri via X: “I must commend President Bola Tinubu for renaming the University of Maiduguri after President Muhammadu Buhari. Not only has President Tinubu shown that he is a loyal and worthy ally of General Buhari, but he has also demonstrated that service to Nigeria has its reward.
“By this act, any future President of Nigeria will be spurred on to leave behind the best legacy possible so that when they leave that office and this world, a grateful nation can reward and remember them.
“The choice of Borno is brilliant and strategic, as the late President’s mother was Kanuri and hailed from that axis. This will help soothe the feelings of loss felt by his kith and kin and make them understand that Nigeria appreciated what their son did in governance.”
