The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved the renaming of the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this to State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. It was the last FEC meeting for 2024.

General Yakubu Gowon was Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1966 to 1975. He led Nigeria’s through the turbulent years of the civil war.

“The third item is that there is also a decision taken by the Federal Executive Council to rename the University of Abuja to honour elder statesman, General Yakubu Gowon,” Idris said.

“The University of Abuja will, henceforth, be called Yakubu Gowon University,” he said.

The minister said, as required by law, the process would go to the National Assembly for all legislative work in that direction, “but FEC has taken that decision to write to the National Assembly to change the name of the University of Abuja”.

The council will proceed on a recess from December 18, 2024 to January 6, 2025, Idris informed.