In a significant move to honor Nigeria’s past, the Federal Government has renamed the University of Abuja after former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The university, popularly known as UNIABUJA or UofA, will now bear the name Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
The Minister stated that the renaming recognizes General Gowon’s remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s stability.
“General Gowon’s legacy is deeply tied to the unity of this country,” Idris told reporters. “This renaming is a tribute to his enduring service and statesmanship.”
General Gowon served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1966 to 1975 during a period marked by civil war and reconstruction. He is widely remembered for his famous call for unity: “No victor, no vanquished.”
The University of Abuja, established in January 1988, has grown into one of Nigeria’s most prominent institutions.
It was conceived as a dual-mode university to offer both conventional and distance learning programs, addressing the educational needs of a rapidly growing capital city.
The institution has since become a hub for innovation and academic excellence, with thousands of students pursuing diverse fields of study.
Renaming the university aligns with the government’s drive to commemorate national figures who shaped Nigeria’s history.
The renaming of the University of Abuja has sparked diverse opinions among Nigerians.
While some have applauded the decision as a well-deserved recognition of General Gowon’s contributions, others questioned the necessity of changing the institution’s identity.
During the same meeting, the Federal Executive Council revealed that it will formally notify the National Assembly of the name change for legislative approval.
Minister Mohammed Idris also announced that cabinet members would proceed on recess from December 18, 2024, to January 6, 2025.
General Yakubu Gowon’s place in Nigerian history cannot be overstated.
At just 31 years old, he became Nigeria’s youngest Head of State in 1966, navigating the country through a brutal civil war from 1967 to 1970.
His leadership saw the implementation of the famous “3Rs” policy of Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation, aimed at healing the wounds of the war.
The elder statesman is also recognized for fostering Nigeria’s unity despite ethnic and political divisions.
