In order to honor the immediate-past President, President Bola Tinubu and his fellow students at the University of Maiduguri and concerned citizens of Borno State have rejected the institution’s change of name to Muhammadu Buhari University.
In honor of the late former Nigerian leader, President Bola Tinubu announced the renaming of the University after Buhari at an expanded FEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
The groups’ assertions included that the University of Maiduguri is more than just a name; it is also a potent representation of resilience, academic excellence, and cultural heritage, especially given the insecurity that once plagued the North-East region.  ,
Read more about Tinubu changing the name to Maiduguri University after Buhari.
Due to his ancestral connections and military service history, President Tinubu was advised to rename the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, or the Army University Biu after the late leader.
A public petition urged the general public to sign up to support the protest by the students’ and alumni groups.
Around 9,000 people have so far signed the petition, which has been popular for the past 48 hours.
See below for their petition:
The Problem
Respectfully challenge the University of Maiduguri’s renaming to Muhammadu Buhari University.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is His Excellency.
The Armed Forces’ President and Commander-in-Chief,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
We, the alumni, students, and concerned citizens, write this sincere letter to Your Excellency regarding the recent change of name to Muhammadu Buhari University.
We have a deep respect for the memory and legacy of late President Muhammadu Buhari, a man whose lasting legacy is still indelible. However, we don’t agree with the University of Maiduguri’s new name because it conflicts with the sentiments of its main stakeholders and the institution’s enduring identity.
More than just a name, Maiduguri University. In the wake of the region’s once-failed insecurity, it is a powerful representation of resilience, academic excellence, and cultural heritage. The institution’s strategic significance in Northern Nigeria’s development, peacebuilding, and intellectual advancement is reflected in the name “University of Maiduguri,” which resonates deeply with the people it serves.
This outstanding institution has produced leaders, scholars, diplomats, scientists, and patriots who formally identifie as UNIMAID alumni for more than 40 years. Its name is a source of pride for both the global academic community and Nigeria as well as for all of Africa.
Our Demand:
Please re-examine and change the University of Maiduguri’s name, as requested by Your Excellency. Although we hold President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy in high regard, we think that alternative national monuments, research institutes, or legacy projects that won’t alter a university’s long-standing historical significance can be immortalized.
We respectfully suggest that the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, a relatively new and incredibly symbolic institution that was once President Buhari’s hometown, be considered for renaming. Based on personal legacy, regional pride, and national significance, this would make a better tribute. The Nigerian Army University Biu is another fitting institution that could be renamed in honor of the late former president Muhammadu Buhari, in addition to his background as a retired military general. His military service and his contributions to national leadership are both reflected in this.
The preservation of this name is not a political position; rather, it is a plea for continuity, emotional attachment, and the reliability of a brand that has endured both conflict and time. Without erasing either of the former president’s legacy or UNIMAID’s soul, let us honor both.
We rely on your wisdom, impartiality, and commitment to promoting national harmony and stakeholder engagement.
Source: Channels TV
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