Ex-education minister, Obaji, endorses renaming of UNILAG, others call for a rethink

Posted by admin Headlines Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

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Lagos – Stakeholders in the education have continued to react to the renaming of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as Moshood Abiola University (MAU) by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The president had in his Democracy Day broadcast on Tuesday named the institution after the late Chief MKO Abiola for his contributions to the country’s democracy.

Abiola was the presumed winner of the annulled June 1993 presidential poll.

A former Minister of Education, Mrs Chinwe Obaji, on Tuesday that the decision to rename the school after Abiola was a welcome development.

“I do not see anything wrong with the change because it has to do with what is their brief and so, there is nothing wrong with that.

“The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) , for instance, has it in the constitution establishing it that the name must not be changed and so it would remain.

“Moshood Abiola deserves to be honoured because he was a symbol of democracy, no matter whatever anyone thinks,” she said.

Obaji noted that the 1993 election was the freest and fairest the country had ever experienced, adding that for government to think of giving him such an honour was not out of place.

“Here was a man whose ideals were embraced and people, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences voted for him overwhelmingly.

“If the government deems it proper to honour him this way, then so be it”.

But the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), UNILAG Chapter, is opposed to it, describing the renaming as unnecessary.

The association’s Secretary, Mr Ben Anosike, urged the government to revisit the issue.

“We are not against the Federal Government honouring whoever it deemed fit, but what we are saying is that UNILAG does not deserve such change.

“It is already a brand name that has come to be accepted and recognized the world over.

“It is the university of first choice and the nation’s pride and it should be sustained,’’ he also said.

Mr Patrick Asuquo, immediate past Public Relations Officer, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), UNILAG Chapter, urged the government to reconsider its decision.

“We are calling on the government to quickly reconsider its decision,’’ he said. (NAN

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