President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the renaming of the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University, in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
The announcement was made on Thursday during an expanded special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held in Abuja in memory of the former President. Present at the event were the children of the late leader, senior government officials, and members of the cabinet and National Assembly leaders.
President Tinubu said the renaming of the institution is a fitting tribute to a man who, during his tenure, made immense contributions to national security and unity, especially in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast.
“President Muhammadu Buhari was not only a patriot but a leader who committed himself to the liberation and rebuilding of the Northeast,” Tinubu said.
Participants at the meeting praised the decision as both timely and deserved, describing the late President as a true liberator of the region.
Upon assuming office in 2015, Buhari—himself a retired General with deep familiarity with the region’s terrain and security dynamics—took swift action to combat terrorism. He relocated the military’s operational command centre to Maiduguri and retooled the Nigerian Armed Forces with increased funding, modern hardware, and strategic partnerships, including cross-border cooperation through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
These measures led to the recovery of several local government areas from insurgent control, the dismantling of Boko Haram’s operational bases, and the gradual restoration of peace in Borno and surrounding states.
Beyond military action, the Buhari administration launched major humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in the Northeast. The establishment of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) served as a central agency for rebuilding destroyed infrastructure, resettling displaced persons, and coordinating post-conflict recovery.
Social investment programmes under Buhari’s government also targeted the root causes of youth radicalisation by providing skills, education, and economic opportunities.
Although security challenges persisted in some areas, many observers credited Buhari’s dual-track approach—military pressure and structural recovery—as the foundation for the relative peace the region enjoys today.
The renaming of the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University is now seen as a symbolic and lasting gesture to commemorate the legacy of a man who championed both the defence and development of Nigeria’s Northeast.