President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally announced that the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) will henceforth bear the name of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The institution, located in the heart of Nigeria’s insurgency-stricken northeast, will now be called Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri, in recognition of Buhari’s decades of service and commitment to the nation.
The declaration came during a poignant Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held on Thursday, dedicated to honouring Buhari’s memory following his recent passing.
The atmosphere was marked by solemnity as cabinet members, senior aides, and government officials gathered to pay tribute to a leader Tinubu described as principled and unshakable.
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Presiding over the special session, President Tinubu spoke in deeply reverent tones, celebrating Buhari as a man of discipline, moral integrity, and deep patriotism.
“He was not a perfect man—no leader is—but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man, a decent man, an honourable man,” Tinubu said.
While conceding that Buhari’s legacy, like all great leaders, will continue to stir debate, Tinubu argued that the essence of his leadership lay not in flawless outcomes but in the purity of his intent, the consistency of his values, and the example he set for those who followed.
“The character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, and the incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten,” the President affirmed.
Throughout his remarks, Tinubu painted a vivid portrait of the late president’s leadership style: one marked by humility, moral clarity, and stoic resolve. He described Buhari as a man who wielded authority with calm restraint and governed with quiet strength.
“He stood always ramrod—unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause, and unafraid of the loneliness that sometimes comes to those who do what is right rather than popular,” Tinubu reflected, recalling Buhari’s signature posture both in public and in private life.
The President also revisited their political collaboration, noting that their alliance—formed across ideological, regional, and ethnic lines—paved the way for Nigeria’s historic democratic breakthrough in 2015.
Together, Tinubu said, they helped secure the nation’s first peaceful transfer of power between rival parties, a milestone that strengthened Nigeria’s democratic credentials.
Describing Buhari’s conduct in office, Tinubu lauded the former leader’s ability to govern with dignity and self-restraint, observing that he carried the burdens of leadership “without complaint.”
While acknowledging the inevitable scrutiny that comes with any leader’s record, Tinubu maintained that Buhari’s incorruptible character and devotion to duty offer enduring lessons for generations to come.
“His patriotism was lived more in action than in words,” Tinubu noted, emphasizing that Buhari’s legacy must serve as a moral compass for present and future leaders. “His righteousness never sought attention.”
The FEC session concluded with a minute of silence and prayers for the repose of Buhari’s soul. Around the nation, the news of the renaming has sparked a wave of tributes from political leaders, civil society voices, and ordinary citizens—many of whom remember Buhari not just as a former president but as a man who symbolized ethical governance and national sacrifice.
President Tinubu’s decision to rename the university carries both symbolic and practical resonance. The institution is located in Borno State, a region that bore the full weight of the Boko Haram insurgency during Buhari’s presidency.
Under his leadership, the federal government made significant strides in restoring peace and rebuilding communities across the northeast.
By anchoring Buhari’s name to an academic institution in this region, Tinubu aims to memorialize a legacy of resilience and service where it arguably mattered most.
In a closing note, the President offered one final tribute to the late statesman: “The incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten.”
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