20/12/2024
PROPOSED NEW NOMENCLATURE FOR UNIVERSITY of ABUJA.
By
Dr. Nesta Andy-Philip,
Department of Christian Studies & Religious Communications,
Faculty of Arts.
University of Abuja, Abuja.
The renaming of University of Abuja (U of A) is inimical to the identity of the indigenous people of FCT. The hosting of University of Abuja, by FCT indegenes, gives us a sense of belonging in the Federal Character. The renaming eschews this feeling from the indegenes.
We respect and love our former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and his contribution to national development which prompted this immortalization move. I rejoice with him in this regard. However, the social milieu of immortalization is wrongly situated, why not University of Jos, Jos, in his state of origin?
Are there no FCT's heroes and heroines, to be immortalized, if not now, later? Is it another expression of the cajole and caricature, on FCT indigenes which says "FCT is no man's land"?
The pertinent question is, was there consultation of the hosts of the University of Abuja, before FEC's, decision? Truly, by law, the Land and the University are the exclusive preserve of the FG. That not withstanding, however, if FCT indigenes, hadn't a say on this change of name, then, this is, certainly an imposition, subjugation and intimidation on a peaceful people, whose social-terrain-identity and affiliation to government presence do not matter and taken into cognizance.
In fact, by my opinion, this change of name is needless, unthinkable, absurd and ridiculous. There can be no better name so unifying for a University in a Country's Capital than the name University of Abuja (U of A).
It is a wonderful idea to immortalize, our amiable former Head of State, but let it be done in the right context. Let the FG establish another University domiciled in his social milieu and name it after him. The nomenclature, University of Abuja, should remain eternal.
God bless Nigeria.