The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) chapter, has strongly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s decision to rename the institution after Nigeria’s late former President, Muhammadu Buhari, branding the move as a misguided political stunt and a gross affront to academic autonomy.
In a fiery statement issued on Saturday and obtained by SaharaReporters, ASUU UNIMAID Chairperson, Dr. Abubakar Mshelia Saidu, described the announcement as “politically motivated,” “ill-advised,” and “deeply provocative,” vowing to mobilise resistance across academic and civic platforms to reverse what it called an “appalling decree.”
According to ASUU, the decision was revealed during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session convened in Abuja on Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Buhari’s honour. The renaming of UNIMAID triggered instant backlash not only within the university but also across Nigeria, with many interpreting the move as political overreach at the expense of the institution’s legacy.
“This action is not merely shocking,” the union stated. “It is a brazen affront to the sanctity of our alma mater, especially as we approach its historic 50th anniversary under the globally respected and deeply cherished name ‘University of Maiduguri.’”
The union warned that this “unilateral and insensitive” decision could not go unchallenged, stressing that UNIMAID’s legacy—built through decades of academic excellence and resilience amid insurgency and insecurity in the North-East—must not be hijacked to serve political interests.
ASUU’s statement continued with urgency and passion:
> “This appalling decree has ignited a firestorm of outright rejection. As ASUU—custodians of academic values and institutional integrity—our reaction must be unequivocal, forceful, and commanding. This is not merely about nomenclature; it is about the soul, spirit, and historical identity of UNIMAID.”
The union called on its veteran members, the extended executive council, and the Congress to converge for an emergency session to chart a united path forward, noting that their response would be rooted in facts, reason, and the collective will of the academic community.
> “While public outrage continues to mount, ASUU will conduct an independent intellectual review of the decision, seeking informed opinions and decisive pronouncements that will guide deliberations at our Congress, Zonal, and NEC meetings,” the statement added.
“The legacy of UNIMAID—painstakingly built for five decades—will not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. Our resolve must be historic, principled, and unshakable.”
The union accused the federal government of attempting to “erase and repurpose” the institutional identity of UNIMAID for political purposes, noting that Buhari’s name is already attached to several public institutions across Nigeria, particularly in Borno State.
Founded in 1975, the University of Maiduguri stands as one of Nigeria’s premier federal universities and a beacon of hope and knowledge in a region often besieged by insurgency. For decades, it has symbolised resilience, academic freedom, and scholarly courage.
The backlash to the renaming was not confined to the university. A wave of criticism erupted online, with many Nigerians—including some Buhari supporters—condemning the move as tone-deaf and unnecessary. Critics argue that renaming UNIMAID, a revered institution with a distinct identity, undermines its heritage and demoralises both staff and students.
With tensions rising, ASUU UNIMAID has declared its readiness to resist the move at all levels—local, zonal, and national—unless President Tinubu immediately reverses what they describe as a “deeply offensive and ill-conceived” decision.
As Nigerians await the federal government’s response, all eyes are now on UNIMAID’s campus, where the battle to preserve the soul of the institution is rapidly becoming a defining moment in the defence of Nigeria’s academic independence.
PIONEER NEWS 