President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally renamed the University of Maiduguri in Borno State as Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri. The declaration was made at the close of a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held on Thursday at Aso Rock Villa, convened to honour the late president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu paid heartfelt tribute to Buhari, describing him as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man.” He acknowledged that no leader is without flaws, but asserted that Buhari’s unwavering moral integrity, discipline in service and steadfast patriotism would endure as a national benchmark. “His record will be debated… but the character he brought to public life… will not be forgotten,” he stated.
The president also reflected on Buhari’s stoic and humble demeanour, praising his resistance to the temptations of power:
“He stood, always, ramrod straight; unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause and unafraid of the loneliness that often visits those who do what is right, rather than what is popular.”
Tinubu lauded Buhari’s leadership as quietly courageous, rooted in action more than rhetoric”, he said.
A highlight of the tribute was mention of the 2015 political alliance between Tinubu and Buhari, which ushered in Nigeria’s first democratic transition between ruling parties. Tinubu recalled how Buhari governed with restraint and dignity, bearing leadership burdens without complaint.
Tinubu added that upon leaving office, Buhari returned to his hometown, Daura, “not to command from the shadows […] but to live as he always had”—reflecting a post-presidency marked by modesty and serenity, culminating in his dignified passing on 13 July at age 82.
In his concluding remarks, Tinubu offered a solemn prayer:
“Mai Gaskiya, the People’s General, the Farmer President, your duty is done. May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus.”
He affirmed that the renaming of the university cements Buhari’s legacy, particularly in the North-East—a region central to his public service and national reconstruction efforts.
📌 Looking ahead
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Full formalisation of the name change is expected in due course via the Ministry of Education and oversight bodies such as the National Universities Commission. Implementation details have yet to be published.
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Supporters of the move, including Buhari’s spokesperson Garba Shehu, welcomed the decision, calling it a “well‑deserved honour” given Buhari’s enduring ties to Borno State and his decades of national service.
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Others have questioned whether the university in Buhari’s hometown of Daura would have been a more fitting tribute, though no formal alternative proposal has gained traction.
By renaming UNIMAID after Muhammadu Buhari, the government has anchored his legacy within an institution deeply connected to the North-East—symbolising gratitude and memorialisation, yet also inviting debate over regional symbolism, national memory, and the politics of commemorating leadership.
