The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) chapter, has vehemently opposed the decision by President Bola Tinubu to rename the institution after former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the move as politically motivated and a grave affront to the university’s legacy.

In a press statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Saturday, ASUU UNIMAID Chairperson Dr. Abubakar Mshelia Saidu condemned the renaming as an act of political expediency that undermines the institution’s 50-year legacy of academic excellence and resilience.

 “This action is not merely shocking; it represents a brazen affront to the sanctity of our alma mater, The legacy of UNIMAID, painstakingly built for five decades, will not be sacrificed on the altar of political patronage," the statement read.

The renaming was announced during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Thursday, July 17, in Abuja, convened by President Tinubu to honour the late former president.

Founded in 1975, the University of Maiduguri has become a symbol of academic endurance, especially in Nigeria’s insurgency-stricken North-East. ASUU emphasized that the university’s identity, known and respected globally under the “Unimaid” brand, must not be tampered with for political gain.

ASUU UNIMAID has begun mobilising its veterans, executive council, and members of Congress to chart a forceful response. The union warned that its stance would be “unequivocal, forceful, and commanding,” aligning with the public outcry that has erupted within and beyond the university community.

 “ASUU, as always, responds to issues factually and without emotion, This independent analysis will add immense value as we navigate the right path forward," Saidu stated.

The union accused the federal government of attempting to politically hijack the institution’s legacy, despite UNIMAID’s longstanding role as a bastion of learning amid terrorism and insecurity in the region.

ASUU urged all stakeholders, including alumni and the public, to reject the decision and support its call for an immediate reversal.

The date for the union’s Congress meeting to formally deliberate on the issue is expected to be announced soon.