The alumni and students of the University of Maiduguri, along with concerned citizens of Borno State, have rejected President Bola Tinubu’s decision to rename the institution to Muhammadu Buhari University, citing the university’s powerful symbol of resilience, academic excellence, and cultural heritage, especially in the face of insecurity that once threatened the North-East region.
In a public petition, the groups argued that the University of Maiduguri is more than just a name, having produced leaders, scholars, and patriots who proudly identify as UNIMAID alumni, and its name is a source of pride not just in Nigeria but across Africa and the global academic community.
They recommended that President Tinubu consider renaming either the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, or the Army University Biu, due to the late leader’s ancestral links and background as a former military officer.
The petition, which has garnered about 9,000 signatures, urges the President to reconsider and reverse the renaming decision, preserving the identity and historic significance of the University of Maiduguri.
