UNILAG: Is it more than just a name?

University of Lagos was established in 1962 and one can only guess why the name was formed, a University in the city of Lagos. Amongst many other universities, Unilag has always stood out as an institution that combines education with social life unbelievably well. Producing excellent intellectuals that are flying the flag of the university high home and abroad. Unilag is a University that is situated in the Lagos with the likes of LASU, YABA TECH and a couple of other tertiary institutions but the big question is that " why is the change of its name creating so much brouhaha ?"
University of Ife is a vivid example of a university that its name was changed to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), which did not seem to produce this sort of reactions. Speaking with some people on their reasons for the rejection of the name, some say the MKO Abiola was not an academician so why name a prestigious University after him. Some say that to honour MKO Abiola, he should be nationally recognised and mortalised with more relevant monuments like the national stadium in abuja, an   international airport etc. Some even say that the name UNILAG has risen beyond the normal definition of a university and become a global brand.

Different comments have emerged  like "this is an undemocratic way of honouring the icon of democracy in Nigeria!There was no consultation with the stakeholders (the University Governing Council, the management, the University Senate, the staff and the students, the alumni, etc.) before the order for renaming was announced. ." Prof Soyombo of the University of Lagos taking a rather professional stand.

He pointed out that many people generally identify the University of Lagos as UNILAG. With the renaming of the university, the identity will inevitably change. International partners are likely to continuously seek clarification/reassurance that Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, is the same University of Lagos that they had a relationship with. This also has serious implications for the certificates issued by the university and its teeming alumni who carry the university’s certificates and degrees. It will also have serious implications for current students whose certificates may bear the new name, Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, especially if they wish to go abroad for further studies, as many foreign institutions would ordinarily think the Moshood Abiola University, Lagos is a new university.  

The very nature of the effect of the May 29 2012 speech of the President Goodluck Jonathan that carried the announcement of the change of the name of University of Lagos (UNILAG) to Moshood Abiola University Lagos (MAUL) in honour of the Late MKO Abiola, the president elect of the annulled 1993 election by the military dictator General Ibrahim Babangida, is alarming. It shows that the name UNILAG is more than just a name.



 Students took to the streets in protest and it has lead to the closure of the university for 2 weeks.

Our major concern is that there are no casualties as the youth of the country are delicate to the future of the nation especially the female youth.

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