Do You Think the Senate will Approve the Bill to Rename UNILAG & 2 Other Universities?

With the recent turn of events, it seems like the final say on the renaming of University of Lagos now lies with the Senate and the House of Representatives.

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, sent a bill to the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking endorsement to rename the University of Lagos, UNILAG to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos.

Also included in the Bill for Acts to rename three universities by the President were the change of the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike to Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Federal University of Technology, Yola to Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.

The letter conveying the president request was read by the Senate President, David Mark, as the upper legislative chambers commenced its plenary sitting on Wednesday.

President David Mark stated: “I forward here with, for your kind consideration and passage into law, the attached Bills for Acts to rename three Federal Universities as indicated below.

“Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike to Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; Federal University of Technology, Yola to Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos.

“It is my hope that the Distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will consider and pass these Bills in your usual expeditious manner.”

President Jonathan had in his Democracy Day broadcast announced the renaming of University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos in recognition of the late politician and business icon’s role in entrenching democracy especially against the backdrop that he died in the course of fighting for democracy.

This has been received with widespread protests from students and stakeholders of the institution who are resisting the name change.

What do you think about the recent turn of events? If the Senate approves the bill, it may forever put a stamp on the new name and thwart the efforts of students and other stakeholders who have charged the President to court over the renaming.

Considering the resistance to the name change from most members of the public, do you think the Senate is going to approve this bill?

Please share your thoughts.

News Source: Vanguard