Students Oppose Renaming UniAbuja in Yakubu Gowon’s Honor

The federal government’s plan to rename the University of Abuja after former military leader Yakubu Gowon has been rejected by the student body.

According to Politics Nigeria, the university’s rebranding was authorized by the Federal Executive Council on Monday.

This was disclosed to State House correspondents by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, following the council’s final 2024 meeting at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

The students responded by carrying signs that read, “The voice of men is the voice of God,” “We stand for UniAbuja,” and “Solve hunger problems, not renaming UniAbuja.” They assembled before the university’s main gate on Thursday.

On behalf of the Students Union Government (SUG), Comrade Nkem Silas urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to overturn the ruling, pointing to possible psychological repercussions for the pupils.

According to him, the students’ union intends to formally condemn the name change in a letter sent through the vice chancellor to the Federal Ministry of Education.

The students also voiced their disapproval of the abrupt name change, as did Prof. Jeremiah Vambe, an alumnus and member of the university’s Department of Public Administration.

He brought attention to the renaming’s psychological, legal, and economic ramifications, as well as the necessity of changing the university’s founding legislation.

What are the legal ramifications, in my opinion? According to the legislation, they will need to change the name of the university from the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University, he added.

The Abuja Indigenous Students Association (AISA) President, Comrade Adamu Abdulbasit, stressed that changing the university’s name would compromise its core identity and heritage. He suggested, instead, renaming the defunct University of Science & Technology in Abaji after Ladi Kwali University in Abuja and finishing it.

Source: Polities Nigeria