ASUU Condemns Renaming of University of Maiduguri After Buhari, Calls for Immediate Reversal
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri chapter, has vehemently rejected the federal government’s recent decision to rename the institution after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. The renaming was announced by President Bola Tinubu during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Buhari’s honor on July 17, 2025.
In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday by ASUU UNIMAID chairperson Abubakar Mshelia Saidu, the union described the move as a politically motivated act that disrespects the legacy and identity of the university. The union has called for urgent mobilization among its ranks to resist what it labeled a “brazen affront” to the institution’s historical and academic standing.
“This action is not merely shocking; it represents a brazen affront to the sanctity of our alma mater, especially given its impending historic 50th anniversary under the globally recognized and deeply cherished ‘Unimaid’ brand,” the statement read.
Founded in 1975, the University of Maiduguri has earned a reputation for academic excellence and resilience, particularly amid persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s North-East. ASUU emphasized that the legacy of the institution, painstakingly built over five decades, should not be sacrificed for political gains or short-term recognition.
The union warned that while public disapproval continues to rise, ASUU’s own response would be decisive and unapologetic. It further stated that the government’s action has ignited widespread outrage both within and outside the academic community.
“This appalling decree has understandably ignited a firestorm of outright rejection across all segments of the community,” the statement continued. “As ASUU, a principal stakeholder and the unwavering voice of academic integrity and institutional autonomy, our response must be unequivocal, forceful, and commanding.”
The union also invited public intellectual contributions and input from its wider academic network in shaping a unified response at its upcoming Congress and NEC meetings. According to ASUU, decisions of such magnitude demand factual, reflective, and collective deliberation—not emotional or arbitrary announcements.
Many Nigerians have also taken to social media to criticize the renaming move, with critics pointing out that Buhari’s name already graces several public structures, especially within Borno State. Some of the late president’s own supporters have questioned the necessity and appropriateness of the decision.
ASUU concluded by accusing the federal government of attempting to hijack the legacy of a reputable institution for political purposes and reiterated its call for the immediate reversal of the name change.
“The legacy of Unimaid will not be rewritten by the strokes of political pens,” the statement declared. “Our resolve must be collective, our opposition absolute.”
The date for the union’s official Congress meeting, where a final position will be taken, is expected to be announced soon.
– Deeprows News
