Students of the University of Abuja have expressed their opposition to the federal government’s decision to rename the institution in honor of former military leader Yakubu Gowon.
On Monday, the Federal Executive Council approved the renaming, which was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, after the council’s final meeting of 2024 at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
In response, students staged a protest on Thursday at the university’s main gate, carrying placards with messages like “We stand for UniAbuja,” “The voice of men is the voice of God,” and “Solve hunger problems, not renaming UniAbuja.”
Comrade Nkem Silas, representing the Students Union Government (SUG), appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the decision, warning of possible psychological impacts on students.
The SUG also announced plans to submit a formal petition to the Federal Ministry of Education through the Vice Chancellor to formally reject the renaming.
Prof. Jeremiah Vambe, an alumnus and lecturer in the Department of Public Administration, also voiced concerns, pointing out the economic, legal, and psychological implications of the renaming. He highlighted the need for a legal amendment to change the university’s name in the law that established it.
Comrade Adamu Abdulbasit, President of the Abuja Indigenous Students Association (AISA), argued that renaming the university would erase its historical significance.
He suggested completing the abandoned University of Science & Technology in Abaji and renaming it after Ladi Kwali, a notable Nigerian figure.