…Says ex-President’s legacy must inspire future generations
By Austine Agbo Emmanuel
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renamed the University of Maiduguri as Muhammadu Buhari University in honour of the late former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who died in London on July 13, 2025, at the age of 82.
The announcement came during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held Thursday evening at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to pay glowing tributes to the former Nigerian leader.
The commemorative meeting drew an expanded council comprising members of the executive, the National Assembly, the judiciary, and representatives of the Buhari family.
President Tinubu said the decision to rename the North-East-based federal university after Buhari was in recognition of his exceptional service to Nigeria, his military and civilian leadership, and his commitment to education, national unity, and anti-corruption.
“To immortalise our dear leader and preserve the legacy of service and sacrifice he left behind, the University of Maiduguri shall henceforth be known as Muhammadu Buhari University,” Tinubu declared, describing the former President as “a patriot, a soldier and a statesman whose life was defined by duty, honour, and unshakable commitment to Nigeria.”
The event marked the first special tribute session by the Tinubu administration and came just two days after Buhari’s burial in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, following Islamic funeral rites.
The solemn ceremony began at about 5:27 p.m., with President Tinubu entering the Council Chamber shortly after Buhari’s son, Yusuf, and three of his siblings arrived. The late president’s family sat alongside leaders from the Senate, House of Representatives, Supreme Court, and key government ministries.
According to an official order of proceedings, tributes were delivered by Senate President Godswill Akpabio; House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; and several cabinet members including Festus Keyamo, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Muhammad Ali Pate, Dele Alake, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and David Umahi. The final remarks were delivered by Yusuf Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of the family.
Thursday’s expanded FEC session was initially scheduled for Tuesday but postponed to allow the President and other top government functionaries to attend the burial in Daura. The tribute followed Tinubu’s earlier directive ordering flags to fly at half-mast nationwide in honour of the deceased.
Buhari, who ruled Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, died after a prolonged illness. His remains were received in Katsina with full military honours before his burial in accordance with Islamic tradition.
