President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment and renaming of a federal university in Kaduna State in honour of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.
Politics Nigeria reports that the move was announced as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day celebration on June 12.
In a nationwide broadcast on Friday, Tinubu said the Federal Government has converted the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, into a full university.
The institution will now be known as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
The President explained that the decision was taken to recognise the late military leader’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey and his long-standing advocacy for national unity and political stability.
He described Yar’Adua as one of the key figures who helped shape modern democratic ideals in the country.
The late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, elder brother of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was widely known for his role in the struggle for democratic governance, especially around the events linked to the June 12, 1993 political transition. He was also a central figure in the pro-democracy movement of the Third Republic era.
Tinubu said the honour reflects the sacrifices made by several Nigerians who stood firm during the years of military rule. According to him, many patriots faced detention, exile, and political persecution while pushing for the return of civilian governance.
During the broadcast, the President also paid tribute to other democracy activists and announced national honours for several individuals who played roles in the pro-democracy struggle. Those recognised include Joe Okei-Odumakin, Richard Akinnola, Ishola Williams, and Arthur Nwankwo, among others.
He also noted that the full list of awardees will be made public in the coming days as part of the official Democracy Day honours rollout.
Tinubu used the occasion to reflect on Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that the country has now enjoyed 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999. He described it as the longest sustained democratic period in Nigeria’s history and urged citizens to protect and strengthen democratic institutions.
He added that the sacrifices of past heroes must not be wasted, stressing the need for unity, economic growth, and improved security across the country.
“The generation of our founding fathers secured independence—the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” he said.
