Tinubu names UNIMAID after late President Muhammadu Buhari

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday declared that the University of Maiduguri would be renamed in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The institution will henceforth be known as Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri.

Making the announcement during a special session, President Tinubu paid a heartfelt tribute to Buhari, hailing him as a man of rare discipline, moral integrity, and deep patriotism.

“He was not perfect—no leader is,” Tinubu remarked, “but he was a good man, an honourable man, and a decent leader.”

He acknowledged that Buhari’s legacy, like those of all public figures, will be subject to debate. However, he emphasised that the values Buhari brought into public service—his unyielding moral compass, simplicity, and incorruptibility—would endure as guiding lights for future generations.

As the chamber, filled with ministers, aides, and senior officials, listened in solemn silence, Tinubu painted a portrait of Buhari as a man who wielded power with restraint and purpose.

“He stood firm—unswayed by the seductions of office, unmoved by the pursuit of popularity, and unafraid of the isolation that comes with doing what is right,” the President said. He added that Buhari’s legacy was defined not by fanfare but by a quiet resolve to do what was just and fair.

Tinubu also reflected on their shared political history, recalling how their coalition—built across party and regional lines—achieved Nigeria’s first peaceful handover of power from one ruling party to another in 2015. He described Buhari’s conduct during that period as graceful and selfless, noting that he bore the demands of office with dignity and humility.

While recognising that all legacies are open to interpretation, President Tinubu stressed that Buhari’s life and leadership embodied integrity, austerity, and deep national commitment—qualities he hoped would remain a moral reference point for Nigeria’s future.

The session concluded with prayers and a moment of silence in honour of the late leader. Tributes have continued to pour in from across Nigeria—from political figures and civil society organisations to ordinary citizens—celebrating Buhari’s life of public service.

The renaming of the University of Maiduguri, Tinubu said, is a permanent tribute to Buhari’s contributions. Beyond its symbolism, he noted, it is a recognition of Buhari’s efforts to restore stability to the region most affected by insurgency—a region where he directed significant federal investments in rebuilding and recovery.

Concluding his address, Tinubu stated: “What he stood for—his integrity, his moral force—must not be forgotten. Muhammadu Buhari’s name now lives on, not only in history but in the future of Nigerian education.”