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University of Abuja Renamed After Yakubu Gowon

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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the renaming of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) to Yakubu Gowon University, in honor of former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), who recently turned 90.

Announcing the decision at the 14th council meeting under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, revealed that the proposal will be forwarded to the National Assembly for formal legislative approval to ensure official recognition of the name change. The meeting was also the last FEC session for 2024.

About Yakubu Gowon

Yakubu Gowon, who served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1966 to 1975, was the country’s youngest leader at age 31. He rose to power during a period of intense political turmoil following a counter-coup and led the nation through the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). His tenure is widely remembered for the slogan, **”To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done,”** reflecting his commitment to national unity.

After the war, Gowon implemented the “no victor, no vanquished”policy to promote reconciliation and launched reconstruction projects aimed at healing the country’s divisions. His administration leveraged the oil boom to spur economic growth, undertaking large-scale infrastructure development and expanding educational opportunities.

Overthrown in a peaceful coup in 1975, Gowon spent years in exile, pursued academic studies, and later became a respected advocate for peace and unity in Nigeria.

About the University

Founded in 1988, the University of Abuja was established as a dual-mode institution, offering both traditional and distance learning programs to serve a diverse student body. The renaming of the university is a tribute to Gowon’s legacy of fostering unity and his contributions to Nigeria’s development.

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