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The Sokoto Heritage Reloaded Initiative has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fulfill a promise made by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to rename the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) after Nigeria’s first executive president, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari.
Shehu Shagari served as Nigeria’s first executive president following the transfer of power from military head of state General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979, marking the beginning of the Second Nigerian Republic.
This appeal follows President Tinubu’s recent announcement to rename the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) after the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on July 13 in a London hospital after a brief illness.
In a statement signed by Nuruddeen Muhammad Mahe, the Convener of the Sokoto Heritage Reloaded Initiative, the group emphasized that Shagari was not only a leader but also a symbol of humility, integrity, and statesmanship.
According to Mahe, “Shagari’s vision for Nigeria, especially in the area of education, laid the groundwork for what we have today in distance and open learning. It was during his tenure that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was first conceived—a revolutionary idea to democratize access to higher education.”
“It is in this spirit of continuity, respect for history, and your deep sense of justice that we appeal to you to fulfill a national promise made by the Buhari administration: to name a national monument after the late President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, GCFR, Nigeria’s first executive President,” the statement continued.
Mahe praised President Tinubu’s reputation for loyalty and principle, noting his historical support for former President Buhari during the struggle for democracy and the merger that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). He stated, “Mr. President, history will always remember you as a man of loyalty and principle—a leader who stood shoulder to shoulder with his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, long before power was within reach.”
The group proposed renaming NOUN as the Shehu Shagari Open University of Nigeria, describing it as a fitting tribute to Shagari’s legacy and his vision for an educated Nigeria. “Mr. President, what better way to immortalize Shehu Shagari than to rename NOUN as the Shehu Shagari Open University of Nigeria—a tribute not just to his legacy, but to his enduring vision for an educated and enlightened Nigeria,” Mahe said.
The statement further noted, “By doing this, Your Excellency, you would not only honour a great son of Nigeria but also write your name in gold as the leader who kept promises made in good faith—even across administrations. It would signal that Nigeria is a country that remembers, rewards legacy, and respects the contributions of its heroes past.”
Expressing confidence in Tinubu’s commitment to national unity and respect for Nigeria’s icons, the group added, “Mr. President, with your well-known respect for national icons and commitment to unity, we are confident that you will heed this noble call. In honouring Shehu Shagari, you honour the values of humility, service, and patriotism that define the Nigerian spirit.”
The Sokoto Heritage Reloaded Initiative concluded by wishing President Tinubu continued success in uplifting Nigeria and fostering national unity.
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