Tempest Over A Name: Renaming Of UNIMAID After Buhari Sparks Firestorm

In the bustling capital, a single announcement from President Bola Tinubu sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s digital and academic spheres.

During a special Federal Executive Council session on July 17, Tinubu declared that the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), a beacon of resilience in Borno State, would henceforth be known as Muhammadu Buhari University, honouring the late former President who died on July 13, 2025.

The decision, meant as a tribute to Buhari’s legacy, ignited a fierce debate on X, where voices from students to activists clashed over legacy, logic, and the weight of a name.

The news broke swiftly, with @ARISEtv posting, “President Tinubu renamed the University of Maiduguri as Muhammadu Buhari University during a Federal Executive Council tribute session”

Supporters hailed the move as a fitting nod to Buhari, a Daura native whose administration poured resources into the North-East’s security and reconstruction.

One user wrote, “Buhari’s discipline and integrity deserve this. UNIMAID’s new name is a proud moment for the North.”

Others echoed President Tinubu’s FEC remarks, where he called Buhari “a good, decent, and honourable man” whose moral force set a benchmark for leadership.

Yet, the applause was far from universal. On X, a growing chorus of dissent painted the renaming as tone-deaf.

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@ObaOfVibes captured the frustration: “Tinubu just renamed UNIMAID to Muhammadu Buhari University Maiduguri — because apparently, legacy over logic. 27 farmers just died in Plateau-silence. ASUU issues-ignored.”

The post struck a nerve, amassing thousands of likes as users questioned the timing, with Nigeria grappling with ongoing ASUU strikes and regional violence.

Another user, @LadyGrasha, fumed, “The stunt pulled on renaming University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University is ridiculous and disrespectful!!!! The state is not owned by H.E Buhari”.

The backlash gained traction with @UnlimitedEniola, who pointed out the irony of honoring Buhari with a second institution—after the Muhammadu Buhari University of Transportation in Daura, while universities suffered during his tenure: “One man, two universities named after him… Yet, for 1,086 days, University staff were on strike during his 8-year reign”.

The sentiment resonated among UNIMAID alumni and students, who, in an open letter, argued that the university’s 40-year identity as a symbol of resilience against Boko Haram should not be erased.

In Maiduguri, the mood was equally charged. At a campus café, UNIMAID student Aisha Lawal scrolled through X, shaking her head.

“This is our school, our pride. Why change it without asking us?” She asked, echoing the petition’s call for consultation.

Meanwhile, in Abuja, Tinubu’s administration stood firm, with the Federal Ministry of Education praising the renaming as a nod to Buhari’s educational investments and Tinubu’s commitment to human capital.