“He stood ramrod in the face of power—unseduced by applause, unmoved by temptation, and unafraid of the solitude that often accompanies those who choose to do what is right over what is popular,” Tinubu recalled, describing Buhari’s stoic leadership style.

The renaming of the university is seen as both symbolic and strategic. Situated in Nigeria’s northeast—a region battered by years of insurgency and terrorism—the University of Maiduguri was a significant focus of Buhari’s counterterrorism and reconstruction efforts. Under his leadership, large-scale rehabilitation projects were initiated in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states, in collaboration with regional and international partners. His administration also introduced several social investment and security stabilization programs aimed at rebuilding affected communities.

“This institution, now Muhammadu Buhari University, stands as a testament to the strength and courage he championed, especially in the face of Boko Haram’s savagery,” said a senior education official at the ceremony. “It is fitting that a legacy of resilience and moral discipline be tied to an academic institution in a region that demanded so much of his leadership.”

President Tinubu also used the occasion to reflect on his political partnership with Buhari. He recalled their historic alliance through the All Progressives Congress (APC), which brought about Nigeria’s first peaceful democratic transfer of power in 2015, ending the 16-year rule of the People’s Democratic Party.

“He bore the burdens of office with dignity and restraint,” Tinubu remarked. “Through his silence, he often spoke volumes. Through his humility, he exemplified greatness.”

The special session concluded with a moment of silence and prayers for the late president. Across Nigeria and beyond, tributes continue to pour in from world leaders, civil society organizations, former colleagues, and ordinary citizens, many of whom described Buhari as a “people’s general,” a “president of purpose,” and a “servant leader who gave more than he took.”

Though his leadership style was sometimes seen as austere and detached, Buhari’s impact on Nigerian politics and statecraft is undeniable. His years in office were marked by efforts to entrench fiscal discipline, reform the public sector, and combat entrenched corruption—goals that continue to shape policy directions even under Tinubu’s administration.

The renaming of a major federal university after him not only cements Buhari’s place in Nigeria’s historical narrative but also signals a continuity of ideals between the two administrations. In President Tinubu’s closing words: “The incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten.”