The Weight of a Name: A Lament for the University of Abuja

In the verdant heart of Nigeria, where the savannah stretches towards the horizon, there stands a institution of learning, a beacon of knowledge, and a testament to the indomitable will of the Nigerian people. This is the University of Abuja, a name that has become synonymous with excellence, with resilience, and with the unwavering pursuit of wisdom.

But now, like a whispered rumor, a proposal has emerged to rename this venerable institution to Yakubu Gowon University. And I must ask, why must we disturb the peace of this noble name? Why must we unsettle the foundations of this institution, which has stood firm against the tempests of time?

The University of Abuja is more than just a name; it is a symbol of our collective identity, a testament to our shared history, and a beacon of hope for the future. It is a name that has been forged in the crucible of our national experience, a name that has been tempered by the trials and tribulations of our people.

To change this name would be to erase a part of our history, to diminish the legacy of those who have walked the hallowed halls of this institution. It would be to abandon the very identity that has made the University of Abuja a shining example of academic excellence in our beloved nation.

And for what? So that we might honor the memory of General Yakubu Gowon? Ah, but there are better ways to do so. We might establish scholarships in his name, or erect monuments to his memory. But to change the name of our beloved university? No, that would be a sacrilege, a desecration of the very fabric of our national identity.

Let us stand firm, my friends, and defend the name that has been our own for so long. Let us reject this proposal, and instead find ways to honor General Gowon that do not involve the erasure of our collective identity.

For we are the University of Abuja, and we will not be silenced. We will not be erased. We will stand firm, and we will defend our name, our legacy, and our very identity.