The call by a foremost legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola that the name of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) be changed in honour of the departed and former Nigerian President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, has continued to generate controversy in the polity.
In a recently published article in the Nigerian Tribune titled; “Name FUTA after Shagari”, the legal icon had stated that, “He was very saddened when I learnt of the departure of former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman. Our departed former president, who had the rare opportunity of ruling Nigeria during the Second Republic, was indeed a man of honour, dignity and character. He was a very considerate, accessible, objective, selfless and kind man …”
Aare Babalola, who is the Founder and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, added that Alhaji Shagari was responsible for creation of the three higher institutions, which now exist in Ondo and Ekiti states, saying that his name will remain indelible in the hearts of the fair-minded members of the two states, as the Senior Advocate of Nigeria humbly suggested that the Federal Government should consider naming the Federal University of Technology, Akure after this illustrious son of Africa.
Following the call to rename FUTA after the late former President Shehu Shagari, the alumni of FUTA have kicked against Aare Babalola’s call, saying it might mar the brand of the institution. The Alumni President, Mr. Olaitan Adesomoju hereby appealed to the Federal Government to “disregard the suggestion that Shagari be immortalised by renaming FUTA after him”. According to him, a name change for FUTA would do more harm than good to the institution, which he said, had over the years, created an international brand for itself with the name of FUTA. The President disclosed that the focus of the institution should be how its infrastructural and academic advancement would be uplifted, recommending that aside FUTA, one of the institutions established in various parts of the country by Shagari, could be renamed after the late president.
“Evidence abound that previous name changes for purposes of immortalisation have done a lot of damage to institutions of higher learning than good and there is nowhere in the world that institutions of higher learning over five years old are abruptly renamed after the demise of a leader. For example, Harvard and Oxford (universities) have kept the same name since their creation and establishment; these brands are globally respected and identifiable”, he added.
It would be recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan had reversed the name change of the University of Lagos, which he, by fiat, renamed Moshood Abiola University in a broadcast to mark the 2012 Democracy Day. The name change had been the subject of litigation and protests from students and alumni of the institution while an Ikeja High Court, presided over by Justice Steven Adah, reaffirmed its interim order restraining the Federal Government from the name change.
I stumbled on an online publication of The Nation newspaper of May 31, 2012 on the renaming of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos after Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election in Nigeria that was described as “noble” but “illegal”, by Aare Afe Babalola. According to the former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Lagos, before the decision to change the name was taken, no amendment was made to the provisions of the University of Lagos Act, saying President Goodluck Jonathan usurped the powers of the National Assembly by not seeking its backing. According to him, even though the motive was noble, the Federal Government followed an unconstitutional procedure.
He warned that said such a decision would have been better effected if proper attention had been given to the provisions of the Constitution and the University of Lagos Act. He added that President Jonathan’s powers, as visitor to the university, did not include changing its name without recourse to the National Assembly. “It is my view that things could have been better handled,” he said. To him, while it is proper to give honour where it is due, such must be done in accordance with the law and hoping that the authorities concerned will review their position.
Just like UNILAG, FUTA is a creation of the Act of the National Assembly, which was later replaced by the Federal Universities of Technology Decree No. 13 of 1986 that certainly requires an amendment to the legislation setting it up before the name change can become valid, as it cannot also be done by fiat. Does it worth the stress in tampering with the brand of the institution that had been built over the years? Rather that changing the name of FUTA, it may be better for the Federal Government to make it a priority to name any new institution or government monument in honour of this amiable Nigerian. This option would certainly save the nation from unnecessary controversy involving a great man that was an epitome of humility and peace.