President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, last Thursday, named the University of Maiduguri after late former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Naijaonpoint reports that Tinubu renamed the varsity in honour of Buhari at a Special Federal Executive Council (FEC) Session held at the State House.
This is not the first public property in Borno State named after President Buhari, although he hails from Daura, Katsina State.
The PUNCH highlights five key public assets in Maiduguri, the state capital, named after the former president.
1. General Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri
Formally known as Maiduguri Airport, the Tinubu-led Federal Government in 2023 changed the name to General Muhammadu Buhari International Airport alongside 14 others with new nomenclatures.
The decision was contained in a memo directed to all Heads of Operations of FAAN and titled, “Naming of Federal Airports in favour of some prominent Nigerians,” by the Federal Ministry of Aviation dated June 1, 2023.
The memo signed by the Director of Airport Operations, Mrs Joke Olatunji, read, “I am directed to refer a memo with reference number, FMA/T4464/7090/T7B/647 from FAAN on the naming of some federal airports after notable Nigerians.
“The renamed airports include Akure Airport – Olumuyiwa Bernard, Benin Airport – Oba Akenzua II, Dutse Airport– Muhammad Nuhu Sanusi, Ebonyi Airport – Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbe, Gombe Airport – Brigadier Zakari Maimalari, Ibadan Airport – Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Ilorin Airport – Gen. Tunde Idiagbon, Kaduna Airport –Hassan Usman Katsina, Maiduguri Airport – Gen. Mumammadu Buhar, Makurdi Airport – Joseph Sarwuan Tarka, Minna Airpor – Mallam Abubakar Imam, Nassarawa Airport – Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, Osubi Airport – Alfred Diete Spiff, Port Harcourt Airport – Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo and Yola Airport – Lamido Aliyu Mustapha.”
2. Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Centre, Maiduguri
Located inside the premises of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the 150-bed capacity trauma centre was inaugurated virtually in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by Buhari
3. Muhammadu Buhari Academy, Maiduguri
Inaugurated in 2019, the Muhammadu Buhari Academy, a boarding school situated along the bypass of Baga Eoad, was constructed for children who became orphans as a result of Boko Haram activities.
The 60-classroom capacity structure and seven blocks of hostels were constructed by the former Governor, Sen. Kashim Shettima, now Vice President and completed by the incumbent governor, Babagana Zulum.
It is believed that the educational facility was named after the late President because of his commitment to the fight against insurgency in the state and the Northeast region.
4. University of Maiduguri’s Senate Building, Maiduguri
Built by TETFund and inaugurated on Monday, July 16, 2018, the edifice serving as the Senate Building of the institution was named after Buhari.
The building is located close to the entrance fence of the school and can be seen from a short distance while driving the main road outside the campus.
5. Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri
The University of Maiduguri was established in 1975 as one of Nigeria’s second-generation universities, part of the Third National Development Plan that spanned between 1975 and 1980.
The Federal Government established the institution to make it a principal higher-education hub in the country.
In its first academic year, the university enrolled 743 students across three faculties: Arts and Education, Science, and Social Science & Law. By 1978, the number of faculties expanded to six with the creation of the Faculty of Agriculture and the separation of the Faculty of Law from Social Sciences.
On July 17, at the FEC meeting, Tinubu announced that the institution will be renamed after Buhari.
The decision, according to him, is part of the government’s recognition and honour for his service to the nation.