The Prestigious University of Lagos now called What?
While many Nigerians were already in the Democracy Day mood in the early hours of the day, I was still enjoying my sleep, having a good rest and recouping energies for me to be able to project into the week that continues tomorrow May 30, 2012. While still snoozing, I could hear, in my subconscious, a talk show on Channels Television where the anchor mentioned that “to commemorate the Democracy day, this year, the Federal Government has moved to immortalize the late politician, Moshood Abiola (MKO), by renaming the University of Lagos after him…now to be known as “ The Moshood Abiola University, Lagos ”. This, according to the anchor, was a move to hold up that “…the labor of our heroes past shall never be in vain”.
Knowing full well that change is the only concept and thing that is constant, alumni and undergraduates of the institution have since been reacting to this change. It is also worthy of note that some sort of psychology is usually attached to names; People, more so, tend to recognize with or pitch a tent under names of such successful entities. The University of Lagos, or UniLag for short, is one of such entities. As a sort of motivation, you hear alumni and undergraduates alike chant “Greatest Akokites….Great!”; this, of course, is one of the reasons why there would be reactions to this change.
Amongst other reasons, the following are reasons why Akokites would not easily accept this change:
• The short name Unilag would be displaced
• The psyche, the espirit de coup that students have as a result of being associated with the institution
• The carriage that graduates and undergraduates of the institution enjoy as being recognized with the Alma Mata
• There are other pressing issues that Mr. President could have focused on at these sensitive times
• The fact that there are other universities in the country, in the south west, whose names can be changed for the immortalization move
• Some held that the timing was wrong as the Vice Chancellor of the prestigious institution just passed away, and this was one insensitive way to respond to the situation…while the VC, Professor Shofolowe, was yet to be laid to rest.
I thought of it…but then we are talking of something that the president, GCFR , of the nation had set out to do. He would just do it anyways. But, the move would have been discussed with some key stakeholders of the institution before it was effected. Although, another party held that only an enactment of the law can see to effect this kind of change to a Federal University, instead of it being a sleep-over unilateral action.
I even read a message, where an undergraduate of the university suggested that the demise of the VC of the institution could be attributed to the move to change the university’s name – probably he did not agree with the then proposition now turned reality, hence, the thought of it gave him sleepless nights that ultimately served him a cardiac arrest. Another individual also aired her views about the move not being bad. Though, she is neither an undergraduate nor an alumni of the institution; so, what business has she got with the reality that the “University of Lagos Certificate” would not be awarded to her after 4 years of hard work? Awwwww, I feel like I’m soaked in cold oil. I feel for my Unilag finalists o. At quarter to…? They would be awarded a “Moshood Abiola University, Lagos Certificate”? What would I be thinking right now, of I was in their shoes? Abeg, who saw this one coming? Now, that green blood that flows in everyone at Unilag would lose its pressure to propel them to that Utopia? Is that already becoming the reality?
Just to satisfy my curiosity, I found myself googling “University of Lagos” – something I wouldn’t have ordinarily done outside wanting to fetch academic information – and, lo and behold! “Moshood Abiola University” shone, unceasingly staring at me on Wikipedia! The Logo? Still the same University of Lagos emblem.
View Wikipedia Info for University of Lagos
All said! Did I hear someone say “thank God I already have my University of Lagos Certificate”? Or, “This thing better not stand”?
What is your take?
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