Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu on Thursday renamed the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu, who announced this at a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Buhari’s honour, said the renaming of the university was to honour the late President’s memory.

“In honour of his memory, will the special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) adopt the renaming of the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri,” he said.

For the renaming to take effect, the National Assembly will have to amend the Act establishing the university.

Buhari, a one-time military Head of State of Nigeria (31 December 1983-August 1985) and immediate past civilian President (2015-2023), died in a London clinic on Sunday, 13 July. He was aged 82. He was buried in his home town in Daura, Katsina State.

Tinubu seized the moment to eulogise the late Buhari, whom he described as “a good man, a decent man, an honourable man” whose legacy of discipline, patriotism, and moral uprightness would continue to inspire future generations.

“President Buhari was not a perfect man, no leader is, but he was, in every sense of the word, a good man, a decent man, an honourable man,” Tinubu said.

“His record will be debated, as all legacies are, but the character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, the incorruptible standard he represented, will not be forgotten.

“His was a life lived in full service to Nigeria, and in fidelity to God,” he said.

He urged his ministers to govern with the restraint, discipline and moral clarity that defined the late former President.

“Let us honour him not only with words, but with humility in power, discipline in service, compassion in governance, and fearlessness in the pursuit of justice,” Tinubu said.

He described Buhari’s passing as a wrap-up of his duty to the nation.

“Mai Gaskiya, the people’s general, the farmer president – your duty is done,” he said.