Federal governments renames Ndufu-Ikwo varsity Alex Ekwueme Federal University

NIGERIA'S government has renamed the Federal University Ndufu-Ikwo in Ebonyi State the Alex Ekwueme Federal University as a mark of respect for the former vice president who was laid to rest yesterday.

Dr Ekwueme, who passed away in November last year in London served as Nigeria's vice president between 1979 and 1983. At Dr Ekwueme's funeral in his hometown of Oko in Anambra State yesterday, incumbent vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo announced that the university was being renamed in honour of the late leader.

According to Professor Osinbajo, the renaming had already been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, who had said Dr Ekwueme was being honoured for his contributions to national development. Ebonyi's Governor David Umahi described the development as a welcome one and part of his administration’s educational policy.

Governor Umahi commended the federal government for appreciating his educational policy and renaming a federal government university in the state after a sage and former vice president of Nigeria. Dr Ekwueme ran for president several times but was particularly credited with the idea of the creation of six geo-political zones in Nigeria when he was a member of the National Constitutional Conference in 2005 during the regime of General Sani Abacha.

Following this, Dr Ekwueme is said to have confronted General Abacha with the formation of the G-34, when the late dictator tried to run as president. Later on, G-34 metamorphosed into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which took over power in 1999 when the present republic was inaugurated.

Dr Ekwueme trained and qualified as an architect, a sociologist and a lawyer. The change of the university's name attracted great applause when Professor Osinbajo announced it during the service at St John The Divine Church, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.