President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially renamed the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State as Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri, in tribute to the late President Muhammadu Buhari. The announcement came during a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held in Abuja on July 17, 2025, convened to honor Buhari’s legacy.
The FEC Tribute & Presidential Remarks
President Tinubu opened the session with a moving national anthem, followed by a heartfelt eulogy. He described Buhari as a “good man, a decent man, an honourable man” whose life exemplified discipline, integrity, humility, and service. Tinubu acknowledged that Buhari was not perfect—“no leader is”—but emphasized that the moral standard he set in public life would not be forgotten.
He reflected on their 2015 alliance that ushered in Nigeria’s first peaceful democratic transition between political parties, and spoke of Buhari’s restrained, dignified leadership. He remarked:
“He stood always ramrod—unmoved by applause, unseduced by power, and unafraid of the loneliness that often comes with doing what is right, rather than what is popular”.
The session concluded in reflective silence and prayer, with participating ministers, dignitaries, and senior government officials in attendance, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Federal Ministry of Education Reaction
The Federal Ministry of Education, represented by Minister Maruf Olatunji Alausa, endorsed the renaming as a statesmanlike gesture reinforcing education’s crucial role in national development. The ministry emphasized that immortalizing Buhari through a federal university in the North-East symbolized resilience, recovery, and unity in a region that bore the worst of Boko Haram insurgency.
Alausa further highlighted Buhari’s legacy in agricultural and economic reforms—such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme, TSA, ERGP, and social investment schemes—underscoring the link between national service and human capital development.
Symbolic Importance of the Location
The decision anchors Buhari’s memory in Maiduguri, where his administration prioritized rebuilding after severe security disruptions.
UNIMAID, founded in 1975, has long served as the North-East’s premier academic institution, enrolling ~25,000 students across faculties such as medicine, engineering, agriculture, law, and veterinary medicine .
By renaming UNIMAID, the government sends a message that Buhari’s contributions—particularly in the North-East—are foundational and enduring.
Reactions & Expectations
Garba Shehu, spokesperson for the Buhari family, lauded the renaming on X, calling it “an honour well deserved … heartening to see this happening in our lifetime in Nigeria”.
Several media outlets described the move as a national tribute placed in a region personally and politically significant to Buhari’s life and service (military governorship and presidency).
While widely welcomed, comments published by stakeholders urged that the symbolic renaming be backed by concrete actions such as improved infrastructure, funding for research, and enhanced student welfare .
Transition Details & Institutional Impact
The University Council and Senate have been instructed to initiate the transition process, including updates to official documents, diplomas, branding, and affiliations.
The Ministry of Education will oversee implementation, coordinate with accreditation bodies like the NUC and JAMB, and ensure continuity of academic programmes under the new name.
There is widespread expectation that the renaming be complemented by substantive investments in campus infrastructure and research capacity—as expressed by educational stakeholders.
Deciding to rename UNIMAID as Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri is more than symbolic. It embeds the memory of Buhari’s decades-long public service in an institution central to the North-East’s recovery and academic growth.
The tribute reflects Buhari’s personal and political legacy in the region, while positioning education as both healing and unifying. As the transition unfolds, the step will be judged not just by name change, but by how it advances student welfare, academic excellence, and institutional development—true measures of honoring a legacy built on service.
–Deeprows News
