NUC boss defends Jonathan on UNILAG

Professor Julius Okojie, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC on Thursday defended President Goodluck Jonathan’s renaming of University of Lagos after late politician and businessman, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.

Okojie during a visit to the Presidential Villa said contrary to popular views, President Jonathan consulted widely before announcing a new name for the University. He however fell short of naming those consulted by the President, but in response to a question confirmed that the Senate of the University were not consulted before the announcement of the decision saying “It is not at that level he (the President) will consult but they (the Senate of the University) have been told.”

The Executive Secretary of NUC also said there is no big deal about students protesting government decisions also said the process process of legalising the name change for the University will be initiated at the National Assembly.

“The President has never said there is no due process, he has not said we should go and pull down the Bill Board of University of Lagos today and put Moshood Abiola. He is a man who believes in due process and he won’t do anything out of the ordinary.”

Okojie added that other universities have been renamed in the past: “I speak as Executive Secretary of NUC and a regulator of universities. We have had University of Ife changed in 1987 to Obafemi Awolowo University, we have had University of Sokoto, now Usman Dan Fodio University and we have had Federal University of Technology, Yola, now known as Modibbo University, Adamawa.”