Controversy As Students, Natives Reject Renaming of University of Abuja

Renaming of universities across the federation by the Federal Government has generated controversy.

On Monday the Federal Executive Council (FEC) renamed the University of Abuja as Yakubu Gowon Unversity in honour of the 90th birthday of a former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (retd).

Addressing journalists on the development, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, after the FEC meeting presided by President Bola Tinubu said the decision “will go through the National Assembly, but FEC has taken that decision”.

But such steps by the governments have always met resistance especially from stakeholders who view renaming of university as aberration.

Renaming of University of Abuja Yakubu Gowon University is the latest in the row. Even though the decision will go through legislative processes, the announcement raised some eyebrows.

Reacting to the news, former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) should visit the university and see how it can upgrade its facilities.

In a post on his X handle on Monday, the former senator said FEC should provide the university with enough gadgets to secure their vast undeveloped land mass.

Sani said, “After renaming the University of Abuja, FEC should spare time and visit that university and see how its facilities can be upgraded and provide them with enough gadgets to secure their vast undeveloped land mass.”

But students at the university, who are also natives of Abuja, have rejected the renaming, saying it would erode the history and values of the university.