Students of the University of Abuja have rejected the decision of the federal government to rename the institution after former military leader Yakubu Gowon.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Federal Executive Council on Monday approved the renaming of the university.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this to State House correspondents after the council held its last meeting for 2024 at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
In reaction, the students, who on Thursday gathered at the university’s main gate, carried placards with messages such as “The voice of men is the voice of God,” “We stand for UniAbuja,” and “Solve hunger problems, not renaming UniAbuja” ¹.
Comrade Nkem Silas, speaking on behalf of the Students Union Government (SUG), appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse the decision, citing potential psychological effects on students.
He said the students’ union plans to write a formal letter to the Federal Ministry of Education, via the Vice Chancellor, rejecting the name change.
Meanwhile, Prof Jeremiah Vambe, an alumnus and member of the university’s Department of Public Administration, joined the students in expressing displeasure over the sudden name change.
He highlighted the economic, legal, and psychological implications of renaming the institution, including the need to amend the law establishing the university.
“Now, if you ask me, what are the legal implications? The legal implication is that they will have to amend the law establishing the university by changing the name University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University,” he said.
Comrade Adamu Abdulbasit, President of the Abuja Indigenous Students Association (AISA), emphasized that renaming the university would undermine its foundational history and identity. Instead, he proposed completing the abandoned University of Science & Technology in Abaji and renaming it after Ladi Kwali University, Abuja.
