President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new university in Kaduna State and named it after Late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, to the honour the former Chief of General Staff as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 2026 Democracy Day celebration on June 12.
The President announced the decision on Friday during his Democracy Day nationwide broadcast that the Federal Government had 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.
Tinubu said the decision was taken in recognition of Yar’Adua’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development and his vision of national unity and partnership.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, an older brother of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was one of the political gladiators in the aborted Third Republic and advocate of June 12, 1993 presidential election actualisation.
“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership,” the President said.
“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,” Tinubu declared.
The President paid tribute to other prominent figures, living and dead, who played significant roles in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy.
He described June 12 as a defining moment in Nigeria’s history and remembered several heroes of the democratic movement, including late Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, whom he said helped lay the foundation for the freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.
Tinubu noted that the country owed a debt of gratitude to patriots who endured persecution, imprisonment, exile and even death in the fight for democratic governance.
He also announced national honours for dozens of pro-democracy activists, journalists, lawyers, politicians and military officers who, according to him, suffered persecution and incarceration during the struggle to restore democratic rule in Nigeria.
Among those recognised were Arthur Nwankwo, Mrs Joe Okei-Odumakin, Richard Akinnola, Ishola Williams and several military officers who participated in the June 12 democratic struggle.
Tinubu said the full honours list would be released in the coming days.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, the President said the country has enjoyed 27 uninterrupted years of civilian rule since 1999, describing it as the longest stretch of democratic governance in the nation’s history.
He urged Nigerians to remain united and committed to strengthening democratic institutions, stressing that the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes must not be in vain.
“The generation of our founding fathers secured independence—the generation of June 12 secured democracy. Our generation must secure prosperity,” Tinubu said.
The President expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, saying democracy must translate into improved living standards, economic opportunities and security for all citizens.
