President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the renaming of the University of Maiduguri in honour of the late former president, Muhammadu Buhari. The institution will henceforth be known as Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri.
The announcement was made during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held on Thursday, where Tinubu paid an emotional and dignified tribute to the late leader.
The President described Buhari as “a good, decent, and honourable man,” whose life was marked by discipline, moral fortitude, and unwavering patriotism.
While acknowledging that Buhari, like all leaders, had his imperfections, Tinubu insisted that his legacy of integrity and incorruptibility must be remembered and upheld.
“He was not a perfect man—no leader is—but he stood always ramrod, unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause, and unafraid of the loneliness that comes with doing what is right rather than what is popular,” Tinubu said.
He noted that Buhari’s tenure set a moral tone for governance in Nigeria, rooted in transparency, justice, and quiet courage.
Recalling their shared political journey, Tinubu spoke of how their alliance, alongside other figures from across the country, led to Nigeria’s first peaceful democratic transition of power in 2015.
He described Buhari’s leadership during that historic period as “restrained and dignified,” highlighting how the former president bore the burdens of office without seeking personal glory.
“The incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten,” Tinubu emphasized, adding that Buhari’s patriotism was demonstrated more by action than rhetoric.
LThe FEC session concluded with a solemn moment of silence and prayers in Buhari’s memory. Across the country, tributes continue to pour in from political leaders, civil society organisations, and ordinary Nigerians reflecting on his life of service.
The decision to rename the university is widely seen as a symbolic and strategic move. Located in the heart of the Northeast, Maiduguri represents a region heavily affected by insurgency—a challenge Buhari’s administration prioritized through military and humanitarian interventions.
The renaming serves as a permanent reminder of his leadership and commitment to rebuilding the region.
With this gesture, President Tinubu has anchored the late leader’s legacy in a place of resilience and renewal, reinforcing the values Buhari stood for in the heart of a region he sought to heal.
