In a major backlash, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Maiduguri has publicly denounced the Federal Government’s recent decision to rename the institution Muhammadu Buhari University of Maiduguri. The union is demanding an immediate reversal, warning that the move risks eroding the university’s hard-earned legacy.
ASUU UNIMAID—led by chair Abubakar Mshelia Saidu—denounced the change as a form of political hijacking, arguing it “sacrifices the university’s sanctity on the altar of political patronage”. The union emphasized UNIMAID’s 50-year history as a beacon of academic resilience in a region beleaguered by insecurity and warned against allowing public anger to go ignored.
Reacting to the outcry, ASUU urged its members, alumni, and students to mobilize—calling for congresses and meetings at zonal and national levels to formulate a formal pushback. The union made it clear that the naming deserves more than symbolic protest—it demands concrete action.
While the FG has defended the name change—citing Buhari’s legacy in education and national development—the move has sparked strong resistance from those who believe UNIMAID’s name carries its own powerful legacy.
