Get Guardian on GoogleThe Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has honoured former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, and six other distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to the union’s struggles and the development of the country’s university system.
Ahmed, who chaired the ASUU-Federal Government Renegotiation Committee, received a standing ovation at the 2026 ASUU Heroes’ Day in Abuja on Thursday, in recognition of his role in resolving the 16-year deadlock in renegotiating the agreement between the union and the Federal Government.
Others recognised were Owelle Gilbert Chikelu, Arc. Lawrence-Pwulukai Ngbale, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem and Prof. Olu Obafemi, while posthumous awards were conferred on late Gamaliel Onosode and Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs.
The awards placed the spotlight on individuals whose public service, professional contributions and support for the union have intersected with its long-running campaign for university reforms.
The annual event, held on November 12, celebrates individuals whose contributions have helped sustain ASUU’s advocacy for improved university funding, academic freedom, better welfare for lecturers and quality higher education.
The union instituted Heroes’ Day in memory of its former president, Prof. Festus Iyayi, who died on November 12, 2013, while travelling to Kano during an ASUU strike.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said the recognition was designed not only to honour past contributions but also to inspire younger academics and future union leaders to uphold integrity, sacrifice and collective responsibility.
He said the union’s struggles for a better university system had been sustained by individuals who stood by it at critical moments, adding that celebrating their support would help preserve the ideals on which the union was founded.
Piwuna said the union also used the annual occasion to draw attention to critical national challenges and proffer solutions through public lectures, noting that this year’s theme, “Insecurity, Incumbency and Elections in Nigeria: The Role of State Police,” was chosen to stimulate conversations on the country’s security situation and democratic development.
He said the theme was particularly relevant given the growing insecurity in the country and its devastating impact on universities, staff and students.
According to him, several university campuses have come under attack, with members killed, students murdered, staff displaced and institutional properties destroyed, turning some campuses into theatres of violence and easy targets for insurgents.
He expressed concern that the prevailing insecurity could also undermine students’ participation in the 2027 general elections, warning that those who might be on campus during the polls risk being disenfranchised if adequate security measures were not put in place.
The ASUU president lamented that despite trillions of naira spent on tackling insecurity, security agencies appeared overwhelmed by the growing threats, insisting that the government must be held accountable for ensuring safer university campuses.
Congratulating this year’s award recipients, Piwuna acknowledged their contributions to the union’s successful negotiation and signing of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.
He particularly recognised the roles played by Prof. Emeritus Munzali Jibril, Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs and Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, alongside members of their respective committees, in advancing the renegotiation process.
He said the union would continue to count on their experience and support to ensure the full implementation of the agreement and address other challenges confronting the university system.
Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, applauded the union for its contributions to the development of Nigeria’s university system, particularly its sustained advocacy for improved funding, better working conditions for lecturers and quality delivery of higher education.
She cited the renegotiated ASUU-Federal Government agreement as evidence of the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns of university workers, strengthening industrial harmony and creating a more conducive environment for teaching, learning and research in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
