UNILAG Alumni Association rejects institution’s name change by Jonathan

More reactions and protests has continued to trail President Goodluck Jonathan’s unexpected decision to rename the prestigious Univeristy of Lagos (UNILAG) to Moshood Abiola University (MAU), with the Alumni Association of UNILAG saying that it completely rejects the sudden change of the 50 years old school’s name.
In a press release signed by the National President, Professor Olayide Abass and the National Secretary, Femi Oladimeji, the UNILAG Alumni Association says that while the group holds no prejudice against the person of Late Chief MKO Abiola, it expects that any change in name would have taken stakeholders interest into consideration and followed due process.
“We are aware that neither the Governing Council nor the University Senate nor any other stakeholder was consulted before the change was announced”, says the Association in its press release.
The group also faulted the hasty means by which the change of the institution’s name was announced, adding “The University of Lagos is the first University to be established by an Act of Federal Parliament in 1962 and has built a strong brand name in its 50 years. That is why it is the University of First Choice and the nation’s finest”.
Criticizing President Jonathan’s action, the statement continued, “We are aware that neither the Governing Council nor the University Senate nor any other stakeholder was consulted before the change was announced. “Also, we are not aware of any act of the National Assembly to change the name. It is therefore inappropriate that Mr. President will try to change the name of a 50 year-old without his consent. “Did Abiola himself not say you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence’?”
“Without prejudice to the person of Late Chief MKO Abiola, we the Alumni Association on behalf of the entire University Community reject the name as announced”, the statement concluded.
Source: Sahara Reporters