The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has strongly opposed the recent decision to rename the famous University of Maiduguri after the late former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, calling for an immediate reversal of the move.
The announcement, which has sparked widespread controversy, was met with criticism from ASUU, students, alumni, and other stakeholders who view the renaming as inappropriate and lacking in consultation, describing the decisions as a unilateral action that disregards the university’s historical and cultural significance to the people of Borno State and Nigeria at large.
The union emphasized that the University of Maiduguri, a prominent institution in Nigeria’s north east, has a legacy tied to the region’s identity and academic contributions, which should not be overshadowed by political consideration.
ASUU statement, highlighted the lack of transparency in the decision-making process , noting that neither the university’s governing council nor its academic community was adequately consulted.
The union demanded that the federal government reverse the decision immediately and engage in dialogue with relevant parties to preserve the institution’s heritage.
The University of Maiduguri (now Muhammadu Buhari University Maiduguri) was established in 1975, and remain a key center for learning and research in Nigeria, and its renaming has raised concerns about the politicisation of educational institutions in Nigeria
As for now, the federal government has not issued an official memo to ASUU’s demands.
