The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri Chapter, has said it will formally announce its stance on the renaming of the institution after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari following its forthcoming congress meeting.

The renaming was announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shortly after Buhari’s death last Sunday in a London hospital. The move has sparked mixed reactions within the university community.

In a telephone interview on Sunday, the Chairman of UNIMAID ASUU, Dr. Abubakar MShelia, told *PUNCH Online* that while discussions had already taken place among union executives and senior members, a final decision would only be made public after the congress.

“Our members will be meeting, and we shall make our position known to the public,” MShelia said. “We will make our position very clear by the time the congress meets. The excos have met, and the veterans have met. We have collectively decided that soon, we will make our position public and convey the message to whom it may concern.”
He declined to provide further details on the union’s likely direction or the content of discussions held so far.

The proposed renaming has also drawn attention from student leaders. The President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Yahaya Maigari, noted that a segment of the student body has reservations about the name change.

“We cannot say all of our students, or 100 per cent of the students, have accepted the change of the university name, but a certain percentage rejected the renaming because of its long reputation,” Maigari said.

He referenced the upcoming 50th anniversary of the institution as a factor contributing to the students’ sentiment. “As a matter of fact, we will be celebrating UNIMAID at 50 soon, that’s five decades, so you know it’s not easy for some of the students to accept that sudden change,” he added.

Despite student concerns, Maigari expressed personal support for the federal government’s decision, citing Buhari’s role in the development of the region and national education.

“For me as the SUG President, I truly support the decision to rename the university after the late President, particularly in recognition of his lifelong contribution to Borno and Nigeria at large,” he said.
Similarly, the immediate past SUG President, Muhammad Bello, supported the change, characterizing it as a reflection of Buhari’s national influence.

“The renaming of the UNIMAID is a tribute to the late President’s contribution to Nigeria. Though some may debate the renaming, but for me, it is a gesture that reflects his impact on the nation, not only the nation but the world in general,” Bello said.

As reactions continue, the university community is awaiting the outcome of the ASUU congress, which is expected to shape the campus response to the federal announcement.