The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) chapter, has firmly rejected the recent decision by President Bola Tinubu to rename the institution after late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a statement issued on Saturday, ASUU Chairperson Dr. Abubakar Mshelia Saidu condemned the move as politically motivated and warned that the university’s legacy should not be sacrificed for political patronage.
“The action is not only shocking but a brazen affront to the sanctity of our alma mater,” the statement read. “UNIMAID, approaching its 50th anniversary, has earned global recognition under its original name, and that legacy must be preserved.”
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President Tinubu had announced the renaming during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on July 17 in Buhari’s honor. The announcement triggered widespread backlash from the public, including students, alumni, and even some of Buhari’s supporters, many of whom argued that several public institutions already bear his name.
ASUU described the decision as “political expediency taken too far,” insisting it would not allow the institution’s identity to be hijacked for political symbolism. The union vowed to mobilize its members, veterans, and national leadership to resist the change through intellectual and organized channels.
The union also highlighted UNIMAID’s resilience and academic achievements, especially in the face of insecurity in the North-East, arguing that this history should not be undermined by a name change.
“We must demand the immediate reversal of this ill-conceived and deeply offensive decision,” ASUU stated, calling on stakeholders to unite in preserving the institution’s integrity.
UNIMAID, founded in 1975, remains one of Nigeria’s leading federal universities, widely respected for its role in sustaining education amid decades of regional conflict.
