"Although the University College, Ibadan was opened in January 1948 as an extension of the University of London in Nigeria, the institution did not emerge as a full-fledged University until December 1962, two years after Nsukka and three months after Ahmadu Bello University. The University of Ife and the University of Lagos followed and each was founded as an autonomous institution... Between 1948 and 1960, the University College, Ibadan dominated the higher educational scene in Nigeria and served as a point of reference for the British pattern of higher education. However, within seven years of Ibadan's establishment this model came under severe criticism when, in 1955, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was the premier of the then eastern region, proposed the establishment of a different kind of university patterned after the American land-grant college. The eastern legislature approved the proposal, causing no small consternation at home and abroad."
We celebrate Zik for thinking big and out of the colonial box, yes! But others at the time did not see it that way and did not receive the "severe criticism" against Ibadan as innocent of political positioning. The history of that debate reveal an intense jostling for the mantle of leadership among the regions in everything including having the first autonomous university, a mantle which it seems the name The University of Nigeria was meant to grab from Ibadan. (American University is not the same as The University of America!) I do not intend to resurrect this debate, especially following my other Oga's reproach or start a new thread of discussions. My senior brother went to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and I loved the campus when I visited. I served in Anambra State and could say I still consider it home there as well. So, there is no prejudice attached to my comments about Zik and the institution, just history as I understand it.
Bode
On 5/30/12 1:22 PM, Okechukwu Ukaga wrote:
"Zik on his part got what he deserved, the politics he played with the name "The University of Nigeria" came back to become his nemesis!"-Olabode Ibironke
Bode,
You seem to have no problem with naming a Nigerian university after Tom, Dick and Harry. But you have problem with naming a Nigerian university after NIGERIA. What exactly are you trying to say here? As a proud alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, I would like to know what you find wrong with the name "University of Nigeria"? What is the politics Zik played with that name? How did it "become his nemesis"? What an insult? Should I remind you that it is not an unusual practice to name a university after a country or even a union of countries as in American University (http://www.american.edu/) and European University (http://www.euruni.edu/).
Zik should be commended (and emulated) for being a true Nigerian/African and a visionary whose plans and actions are not usually clouded by narrow sectional interests. Instead he tended to think big, focusing on Nigeria/Africa as a whole..hence names like University of Nigeria and African Continental Bank for some of the institutions he established. He should also be commended for wanting to keep the focus and honor on Nigeria and not on himself by rejecting the move to change the name from University of Nigeria to Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
Finally, while I very much appreciate MKO's contributions (and actively supported his effort to claim his mandate through - among other things - letters to President Clinton at the peak of the struggle urging him to act decisively in support of MKO and the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria) it is pertinent to note that MKO is not (by any measure) of the same caliber as Zik and Awo as you implied in your email below. Further, I should remind you that MKO was part of the problem for a very long time before he tried to became part of the solution towards the end of his life. Remember Fela's ITT. Remember MKO's relationship with all the Nigerian coup plotters and their military governments? All told, however, I think he deserves some honor. But, I agree with others who have suggested that we need to re-examine how we determine who to honor, why and how, in Nigeria.-Okey----
From: Olabode Ibironke <ibironke@msu.edu>
To: "usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com" <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 7:46 PM
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU
--The State of Lagos as the most progressive State in the federation was as we all know, the battlefield for the restoration of that mandate; it is important to consider democratic protocols and the politics involved, I think, nonetheless, it is deserving, just as i believe renaming the University of Ife to acknowledge Awolowo's vision of enlightenment. Zik on his part got what he deserved, the politics he played with the name "The University of Nigeria" came back to become his nemesis!
--I completely disagree with my own brother, Wole Atere, on this issue. I am wondering if the ideal honour to the memory of Chief M.K.O. Abiola should not have been the renaming of the troublesome University of Abuja to Moshood Kashimawo Abiola University. Perhaps if this had been the case, the case may have been made, properly, for acknowledging the Pan-Nigerian mandate which the late Chief Abiola clearly won and for which he paid the supreme price. After all, the University of Abuja would have made it clear and beyond reasonable doubts, too, that President Jonathan is desirous of a lasting solution to the challenge of the most appropriate national monument to the man whose single-minded sacrifice brought about the present democratic dispensation. Certainly, it will be the day when President Jonathan brings Goodluck to his administration when he openly reverses himself on this clearly unpopular step. I want to appeal to him to do something unexpected for a change!
The last word : I waant to appeal to President Jonathan not to allow the joke that the Great University of Ibadan will be renamed Lamidi adedibu University.
Professor Olakunle A. LawalDepartment of HistoryUniversity of IbadanIBADAn - NIGERIA
From: "woleatere01@yahoo.com" <woleatere01@yahoo.com>
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 17:36
Subject: Re: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU
I have watched with interest, the views expressed on this matter. Dare I say at the risk of voicing a minority view that it is a needless protest. Like someone wrote, this is NOT the first nor will it be the last time a University would be renamed. Several people had expressed misgivings about the non-recognition of the hero that the Late Abiola was in the development of democracy in Nigeria. Now that it has come, it is being greeted with protest. Perhaps we require a reminder that the affected University is funded by the Federal Government symbolised by President Goodluck Jonathan. In any case, the other University that would have been focused is the Federal University, Abeokuta. My suspicion is that it is being reserved for former President Obasanjo, when he eventually passes on. As for the Senate of the University, no Senate that understands the workings of government owned University will make such an issue a matter for Senate debate. I admonish 'the stakeholders' in the University to prevent an avoidable crisis by accepting the change as inevitable, after all change is the only permanent phenomenon in life. Meanwhile, kudos to Mr President. Adewole Atere, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology. Osun State University--Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN
From: chukwuma adilieje <chumadil@yahoo.com>Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 08:59:08 -0700 (PDT)ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.comCc: chuma<chumadil@yahoo.com>Subject: Fw: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU
--
Femi My brother, you are quite right there. It appears to me that politics was the overriding consideration in the decision to rename the University after the Late M.K.O. Abiola of blessed memory, should not have been so. My humble opinion is that this University of Lagos should be drawn into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Besides if proper consultations of with all the stake holders were undertaken before the change was announced I doubt that we would witness the kind of demonstration and outpouring of anger among the various stake holder who have already voiced their regret over the change and urged its reversal. I believe that, were chief M.K.O. Abiola to be alive today, he would like late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who in 1986, rejected such an honour after University of Nigeria was renamed after him, do the same thing. This is really a disservice to the memory of Chief Abiola, because the last thing anybody should do is to drag his name to the mud after he had lived his life and earned his image as a great philanthropist and businessman; democracy Icon and a pillar of sports in Africa. everyone is I spoken to is agreeable to having an appropriate honour done to the memory of M.K.O. Abiola. There is no reason why anybody should choose to paint Abiola as a controversial figure after his death. As I write this the Alumni, ASUU, and the non- Academic staff members of the University have all rejected this sudden change of name. From available information the Senate of the may follow suit as many senior professors in the university have also voiced their opposition to this change. The university does not belong to members of the Federal Executive Council but to all its stake holders who ought to have been properly consulted. The name University of Lagos, symbolizes all its past achievement and and its present standing in international education sector. It is what it is today, partly because of what itself good name brings to it. I am also talking in terms of what image the numerous people across the world have about the university and its graduates over the years. The name change make a mess of the efforts of the past years to build a brand that is capable of attracting national and international goodwill the every university so very much deserves. The name change takes the university back to the level of new universities in Nigeria that are still struggling to find their feet both in terms of track record of academic standards, quality of learning and level of human resources development, as it will now be faced with the unenviable task of convincing the public that the name change should not affect its image and integrity. The track record of any university includes its name and is part of what attracts quality academics and students to it. But the question should therefore be asked : "What was wrong with the name University of Lagos that warranted a desperate desire to change it or reposition the university?'. If it is just a change of name, do you change a good name which any institution has built without hurting that institution or truncating its past glory standing a risk of reversing its progress?
--- On Tue, 5/29/12, Femi Kolapo <fj_kolapo@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Femi Kolapo <fj_kolapo@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 7:07 AM
--I doubt that most students will question whether late Abiola deserves national honor. The question rather is whether students (and alumni) and the community were taken into partnership in the decision to change the name of their school. Did government envisage that students and other interested parties may have views and opinions that required discussions and negotiations before such decision was made?Another way to look at it is to ask whether another king could tomorrow ascend to our authoritarian throne and arbitrarily decide that the name of the university should be changed again to Wok & Chop University?Democracy and respect of the citizen by the government goes beyond the ballot box transaction. Relationship between Nigeria,together with its governments and its young (beginning from elementary school level) should model respect and democracy.f.j. kolapo
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Protest from students of the new re-named school-MAU
> To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
> From: orelikesdat@yahoo.com
> Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 12:02:32 +0000
>
> It is disheartening to find the students of the University of Lagos now Moshood Abiola University protesting due to the fact that the President of the federation honoured the late Abiola. Why are they protesting? That's my question. They have portrayed irresponsible character of themselves and showed that they have not been fully educated,which have amounted to their gross ignorance of what they should do instead.
> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
>
> --
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--
Okechukwu Ukaga, MBA, PhD
Executive Director and Extension Professor,Northeast Minnesota Sustainable Development Partnership, University of Minnesota,114 Chester Park, 31 W. College Street, Duluth, MN 55812Phone: 218-341-6029 Fax: 218-726-7566Book Review Editor, Environment, Development and Sustainability
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." - Richard Buckminster Fuller
--
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