A collage picture of the late ex-president Muhammadu Buhari and the University of Maiduguri campus gate.
From the airport to the university, Borno honours late President Muhammadu Buhari with enduring public legacies reflecting his deep ties to the state.
In a remarkable show of tribute, Borno State has etched the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari into the heart of its capital city, Maiduguri. Five major public institutions now proudly bear his name, spanning education, healthcare, aviation, and governance. These honourifics reflect not only the region’s appreciation of Buhari’s contributions but also the close relationship he fostered with the state throughout his presidency.1. Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri
Perhaps the most significant recognition came on July 17, 2025, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the renaming of the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University. Established in 1975, the university has grown into a cornerstone of higher education in northern Nigeria. The Federal Executive Council's decision to rename the institution was described as a tribute to Buhari’s national service and contributions to educational development in the region.
2. General Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri
Originally known as Maiduguri Airport, this key transportation hub was renamed in June 2023 under the Tinubu administration. The move was part of a broader federal initiative to honour notable Nigerians by naming airports after them. In a memo by the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the airport was redesignated as General Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, reinforcing Buhari’s prominence in the region’s infrastructural landscape.
3. Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Centre, Maiduguri
Commissioned virtually in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Centre is a 150-bed emergency medical facility located within the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. It serves as a critical healthcare asset in the Northeast, especially in addressing the medical needs arising from conflict-related trauma—a cause Buhari was deeply invested in throughout his presidency.
4. Muhammadu Buhari Academy, Maiduguri
Built as a refuge of hope for children orphaned by Boko Haram insurgency, the Muhammadu Buhari Academy was inaugurated in 2019. The boarding school features 60 classrooms and seven hostel blocks, constructed under former Governor Kashim Shettima (now Vice President) and completed by Governor Babagana Zulum. Its naming underscores Buhari’s commitment to restoring normalcy and promoting education in the region.
5. Muhammadu Buhari Senate Building, University of Maiduguri
Standing tall at the University of Maiduguri, the Muhammadu Buhari Senate Building was constructed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and inaugurated on July 16, 2018. Strategically located near the campus entrance, the modern edifice symbolizes Buhari’s role in strengthening institutional infrastructure during his tenure.
These five public institutions serve as enduring monuments to Buhari’s impact in Borno and the wider Northeast. Their renaming not only honours a former president but also immortalizes a legacy interwoven with the region’s journey through conflict, recovery, and progress.
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