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Sokoto Group Urges President Tinubu to Rename NOUN in Honor of Shehu Shagari

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 21st, 2025.

Sokoto Group Urges President Tinubu to Rename NOUN in Honor of Shehu Shagari

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The Sokoto Heritage Reloaded Initiative has made a heartfelt appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to fulfill a prior commitment from the late Buhari administration by naming the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) after Nigeria’s former President, Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari.

Shehu Shagari holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first executive President, ascending to power following the military handover by General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979, which marked the beginning of the Second Republic.

This call comes shortly after President Tinubu announced the renaming of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in honor of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on July 13 in London after a brief illness.

In a statement released by Nuruddeen Muhammad Mahe, Convener of the Sokoto Heritage Reloaded Initiative, Shagari is remembered not only as a political leader but as an embodiment of humility, integrity, and statesmanship.

Nuruddeen highlighted Shagari’s profound influence on Nigeria’s educational landscape, particularly his pioneering vision that set the stage for the development of distance and open learning in the country. “The concept of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) was first envisioned during his administration,” he said.

Appealing to President Tinubu’s sense of justice and respect for Nigeria’s history, the group urges the president to honor the promise made by the Buhari government by dedicating a national monument to Shagari, celebrating his legacy as Nigeria’s first executive president.

“President Shagari’s leadership was marked by humility and visionary foresight, especially in expanding educational access through open learning,” Nuruddeen emphasized. “Renaming NOUN after him would be a fitting tribute to his enduring commitment to education and national development.”

He further praised President Tinubu as a leader of principle and loyalty, recalling his longstanding alliance with former President Buhari and his dedication to Nigeria’s democratic progress.

“The most fitting way to honor Shehu Shagari’s legacy is by renaming NOUN to the Shehu Shagari Open University of Nigeria, reflecting his dream of an enlightened and educated nation,” Nuruddeen concluded.