WHEN Akyal Ishaku applied for his Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology at Erasmus University Rotterdam, he didn’t expect an eight-month delay, not because of his credentials, but because his alma mater had changed its name.
“I graduated from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi,” he said. “But by the time I applied abroad, the university had been renamed Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University. It took months to reconcile my transcript. That delay cost me time and nearly derailed my plans.”
Ishaku is just one of many Nigerians feeling the ripple effects of a growing trend of renaming of longstanding universities in honour of political figures. While government officials defend the practice as a tribute to national heroes, alumni say the move is often poorly thought out and carries lasting consequences, especially for those seeking opportunities abroad.
Controversy over UNIMAID renaming
Ishaku shared his story following the recent renaming of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) by President Bola Tinubu to Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri. The Federal Government described it as a symbolic gesture to honour the former president’s contributions to national development, especially in the insurgency-hit North-East.
But the announcement triggered swift backlash from students, staff, and alumni of the university. For many, the name “University of Maiduguri” carries emotional and historical weight, representing resilience, growth, and academic excellence through decades of insecurity in the region
For instance, an online petition titled “Preserve the Identity of the University of Maiduguri” which garnered thousands of signatures demanded the reversal of the move.
The petition argues that the decision fails to reflect the views of the university’s stakeholders and disregards its longstanding identity.
The petition read in part: “With the deepest respect to the memory and legacy of the late President Muhammadu Buhari — a man whose contributions to Nigeria remain indelible — we believe that renaming the University of Maiduguri does not align with the sentiments of its core stakeholders and the enduring identity the institution has built over the decades.
Similarly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) branch, kicked against the renaming of the institution following a special congress held on Thursday, July 24, 2025. The union described the move as “arbitrary, ill-conceived, and lacking in meaningful consultation.”
They vowed to resist the change, insisting that the name “University of Maiduguri” carried historical, cultural, and regional significance that must be preserved.
The union warned that it would explore all legal avenues to challenge the decision and ensure the original name of the university is retained.
It also called on the national leadership of ASUU, other branches of the union, civil society groups, students, and the National Assembly to reject any attempt to give legislative backing to the renaming.
Not only Maiduguri
The University of Maiduguri is not the first Nigerian institution to undergo a name change in honour of a public figure. In 2019, the then president, Muhammadu Buhari approved the renaming of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi to Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. This was done to honour the legacy of Joseph Tarka, a prominent politician and nationalist from the Middle Belt. The renaming came through a bill passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the president as part of efforts to immortalise notable figures from Nigeria’s political history.
In 2022, King David Nweze Umahi University of Medical Sciences, located in Uburu, Ebonyi State, was renamed to David Nweze Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences following a federal takeover of the previously state-owned institution. Buhari announced the change after the institution was handed over by the Ebonyi State Government, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) formalised the transition from state to federal control.
In Oyo State, the First Technical University, Ibadan, established in 2017 by the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, was renamed in 2023 to Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, Ibadan. The Oyo State House of Assembly passed a bill to approve the name change as a way of preserving the legacy of the late governor. The move was backed by the current administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Most recently, Pen Resource University in Gombe State, a private institution licensed in 2022, officially changed its name to North-Eastern University, Gombe in March 2024.
The decision was made by the university’s Board of Trustees and Governing Council to reflect its broader regional focus beyond its founding organisation, Pen Resource Academy. The change was approved by the National Universities Commission, making it one of the few private institutions to adopt a regional identity through renaming.
Alumni caught in the middle
Alumni have particularly raised concerns over how renaming affects documentation, professional recognition, and institutional credibility.
“Renaming institutions really have a negative impact on the alumni of that institution, most especially those who wish to further their studies abroad because their results and transcripts will bear different names. Why not just build a new university and name it after him?” Ishaku stated.
His sentiments are echoed by Jairus Awo Otakom, an alumnus of Benue State University, which was renamed Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University. He described the move as “insensitive and uncalculated.”
Jairus said it often undermines the legacy of the institution’s founder and disconnects generations of graduates from the identity they built their academic lives around.
He also warned that the rebranding would impose financial strain on the underfunded university and create documentation issues for alumni in professional and academic spaces, both locally and abroad.
“For the university itself, which is already underfunded, this rebranding will require significant financial investment: redesigning letterheads, academic documents, faculty and departmental information systems, signage, and more. Where will this money come from?
“Have we thought about the emotional stress this could cause current students? There are other ways to honour our heroes without disrupting the identity of thousands.”
“Benue State University is currently listed across multiple national and international educational portals as a recognised institution. How do you explain to a job portal or institution that your certificate says “Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University” when their system only recognises “Benue State University?”, he asked “You won’t always be there to explain.”
These discrepancies could lead to lost opportunities. In a post on X, Hamisu Dandaje, an academic, shared how a graduate of the popular University of Makurdi faced challenges in applying for international scholarships after the school was renamed to Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi.
“Because he can’t find his renamed school – JOSTUM – from the global list of universities,” he stated, adding that “The list is yet to be updated, and he can’t obviously use the previous name because his certificate currently bears the name of the new one. This is one of the consequences of renaming a famous University unnecessarily – confusion.”
“If there are a few things politics should spare, the name of a well-known university should be one of them. Inconsistency in the names of our universities would continue to generate global shame. If we can’t be consistent with a common name, what else can we successfully maintain?” he asked.
What do you think of the culture of renaming universities?
