President Bola Tinubu has approved the renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology in recognition of the late military officer’s role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
The announcement was made on Friday during the President’s nationwide address commemorating the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.
Tinubu stated that the decision was part of efforts to acknowledge and preserve the legacy of individuals who played significant roles in shaping Nigeria’s democratic journey. He described the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua as one of the key figures behind the country’s democratic development, praising his commitment to national unity and political inclusion.
According to the President, the institution’s new name reflects the Federal Government’s desire to immortalise Yar’Adua’s contributions to the struggle for democratic governance and nation-building.
“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership,” Tinubu said during the address.
“In recognition of his contributions, the Federal Government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.”
The President also used the occasion to pay tribute to numerous individuals who played active roles in the pro-democracy movement, particularly during and after the June 12, 1993 presidential election crisis.
As part of the Democracy Day celebrations, Tinubu announced national honours for more than 30 individuals he described as heroes and heroines of democracy, as well as military officers who supported democratic ideals during one of Nigeria’s most turbulent political periods.
The recognition includes posthumous honours for notable figures such as Dr. Arthur Nwankwo and Ben Charles-Obi, whose contributions to the democratic struggle were acknowledged by the Federal Government.
Tinubu explained that the honours were intended to celebrate Nigerians who endured persecution, detention, exile, intimidation and other hardships while fighting for democratic governance and civil liberties.
He noted that their sacrifices helped secure the democratic freedoms currently enjoyed by Nigerians and stressed the need to preserve their legacies for future generations.
The President added that a comprehensive list detailing the various categories of national honours and recipients would be released by the government in the coming days.
The announcement formed part of a broader Democracy Day address in which Tinubu reflected on Nigeria’s democratic progress, security challenges, economic reforms and the importance of national unity.
