₦airaland Forum

Outcry as Federal University Lokoja FUL names prominent Senate building after outgoing VC Prof Akinwumi negating the founding fathers.

The announcement by the Governing Council of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) that the institution's prominent Senate Building would be named after the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, after his recommendation of the naming to the Council has ignited widespread reactions across the Country, Kogi State, University community and beyond, with people decrying it as an act of self-aggrandisement, self-glorification that disregards ethical norms in leadership.


The decision, approved at the Council's 7th regular meeting in January 2026 based on recommendations from the Committee on Street and Facility Naming instituted by Prof Akinwumi, was publicly shared on February 11, 2026.

It forms part of a broader initiative to honour distinguished donors, past officers, and contributors by naming various streets, hostels, lecture theatres, and other facilities across the Felele and Adankolo campuses

Prominent among the named structures is one named after the outgoing VC, the Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi Senate Building a three-storey facility initiated, funded through TETFund interventions, and completed under Akinwumi's leadership during his tenure (which concludes on 16th February 2026).

In no University has the VC named a building after themselves, talk more of The Senate building, which is normally the headquarters of the University and normally named after prestigious individuals the establishing President, Education Minister or founding father, not a mere serving VC.

The naming has sparked sharp criticism as voices within the university community, have labelled the move as narcissistic and a breach of ethical practices in higher education governance.

They argue that naming the premier administrative building the symbolic heart of university decision-making—after a sitting (now outgoing) Vice-Chancellor undermines collective efforts, overlooks the contributions of founding fathers and early pioneers who toiled for the institution's establishment and growth, and sets a poor precedent for legacy-building.

Descriptions of Akinwumi's tenure as "corrupt" as he is currently being investigated by EFCC, ICPC, & the police fraud unit for various infraction cases and referred to as overly self-centred have surfaced in online discussions and informal commentary, with some expressing disgust at what they see as prioritising personal immortalisation over institutional humility and shared credit.

In contrast, supporters including official university statements and some alumni defend the naming as a deserved recognition of Akinwumi's direct role in conceptualising, securing funding for, and delivering the project, which stands as one of his key legacies amid broader infrastructural advancements during his time in office.

The full list of approved names, endorsed by the Governing Council under Chairman Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdallah, includes a mix of honorees:
Prof. Hassan Rafindadi’s Clinic (Felele Campus)

Prof. Angela Miri’s Hostel (Female Hostel, Felele)

Alhaji Saleh ICT Centre (Felele)
Otuo-East Farm Road

Dr. Afolabi Umakhihe Farm House

Hon. Abiodun Faleke Sports Centre

Hon. Asiru Asiwaju Tennis Court

Sen. Adighije’s Complex (NEEDS Assessment Building, Felele)

Dr. Gladys Makoju Lecture Theatres (LT A & B, Adankolo)

Haj. Habiba Adeiza Hostel (Girls’ Hostel, Adankolo)Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Way (from the main gate)

Hon. Sanusi Ohiare Street (from the Multipurpose Hall through to the Faculty of Education to the REA Project)

Prof. Nimi Dimkpa Brigg’s Hall (Multipurpose Hall, Felele)

Alhaji Tijani Mohammed Close (from CPGS to the University Library)

Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi Senate Building

Sen. Tunde Ogbeha’s E-Learning Centre

Alhaji Ibrahim Idris Building (Admin building, Adankolo)

Dr. Mohammadu Abali's Drive (Hostel Road, Felele)

Prof. Zuberu Abdallah Hostel (Male Hostel, Felele)

The university has invited the community and public to note these designations for future reference, framing the exercise as a reflection of appreciation for service, philanthropy, excellence, and transformative leadership.

As FUL prepares for a leadership transition, the controversy surrounding the Senate Building's naming underscores broader debates in Nigerian academia about propriety, recognition of individual versus collective contributions, and the boundaries of legacy in public institutions.

While some hail it as a fitting tribute to tangible achievements, others view it as emblematic of deeper concerns over accountability and ethical restraint and highlight that legacy should be applauded by those you leave behind and not yourself

https://firstclassgist.com/outcry-as-federal-university-lokoja-ful-names-prominent-senate-building-after-outgoing-vc-prof-akinwumi-negating-the-founding-fathers/

Smh.

Small school mentality. Naming important buildings and streets after deserving VCs is no big deal so it shouldn't cause a furore.
They should visit top universities like University of Lagos (UNILAG), OAU, UI and see.

If they don't want the Senate building, they can name the university library after him. In UNILAG, the Senate Building and Senate Council Chamber are not named after anyone but the main university auditorium is named after late Prof. J.F Ade-Ajayi , a former UNILAG VC.

Below are the pictures of interior and exterior of the iconic J.F Ade-Ajayi University Auditorium of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). It is the main university auditorium that hosts the university convocation graced by local and international personalities including the university Visitor, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is named after a former VC yet heavens didn’t fall.

The man really do them strong things

Many VCs , CMDs and DGs thief pass top corrupt politicians....

I really dislike all these renaming of a thing. I remember when they tried it with UNILAG. Even AOCOED has been renamed as well. Na wa o

Even though this is just a building and not the whole institution, I still detest it. Allow your successors to celebrate you in cases like this. It is not too good to “blow your own trumpet”

Hmmm

Please take a moment to write a quality post with at least 20 characters.

FreeStuffsNG:
Smh.

Small school mentality. Naming important buildings and streets after deserving VCs is no big deal so it shouldn't cause a furore.
They should visit top universities like University of Lagos (UNILAG), OAU, UI and see.

If they don't want the Senate building, they can name the university library after him. In UNILAG, the Senate Building and Senate Council building are not named after anyone but the main university auditorium is named after late Prof. Ade-Ajayi , a former UNILAG VC.

Yes it's not... But definitely not after outgoing VCs. Besides I don't think I've seen anywhere inside OAU that was named after a VC and even if there is, definitely not recent ex VCs.

FreeStuffsNG:
Smh.

Small school mentality. Naming important buildings and streets after deserving VCs is no big deal so it shouldn't cause a furore.
They should visit top universities like University of Lagos (UNILAG), OAU, UI and see.

If they don't want the Senate building, they can name the university library after him. In UNILAG, the Senate Building and Senate Council Chamber are not named after anyone but the main university auditorium is named after late Prof. J.F Ade-Ajayi , a former UNILAG VC.

Below are the pictures of interior and exterior of the iconic J.F Ade-Ajayi University Auditorium Hall of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). It is the main university auditorium that hosts the university convocation graced by local and international personalities including the university Visitor, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is named after a former VC yet heavens didn’t fall.

The people of the school said it is a problem for them.
You, on Nairaland, via your keypad, are advising them on how "small schools" should behave.

If them ask you now, I am sure you never graduated from ABU, UI, OAU, or UNN.

I'm sure it is a state polytechnic you graduated from.

erad:
Yes it's not... But definitely not after outgoing VCs. Besides I don't think I've seen anywhere inside OAU that was named after a VC and even if there is, definitely not recent ex VCs.

Smh.

I think it was in Ife that I first saw the bust of a past VC. Prior to that time, I had never seen the bust of a past VC in any of the top universities. I will not indulge your ignorance here if you claim not to know prominent buildings named after past OAU VCs on its campus. I doubt if you schooled at Ife niyen.

It's not a big deal even overseas universities do it.

There's more than it meets the eye on this matter. Some people don’t like the man and are disgracing the small school in the process.

When he reach una turn, make una name another building after one of the founding fathers...

The man don hustle and under his tenure the building was completed and you are saying that he should name it after founding fathers

Una well done....

Clearly stated that it was a project he initiated and completed. So he wants his effort the be appreciated. If the Council approved without seeing anything wrong in it, why the outcry? It could still be renamed any other time.

FreeStuffsNG:
Smh.

I think it was in Ife that I first saw the bust of a past VC. Prior to that time, I had never seen the bust of a past VC in any of the top universities. I will not indulge your ignorance here if you claim not to know prominent buildings named after past OAU VCs on its campus.

It's not a big deal even overseas universities do it.

There's more than it meets the eye on this matter. Some people don’t like the man and are disgracing the small school in the process.

You're misunderstanding me. I'm not saying it does not happen, I'm saying it's not the outgoing VC that will initiate his own memorial. Another VC after him may decide to do it. I think that's what the uproar is about, the fact that it's the VC himself that's recommending his own name for a school facility. If he was recommending the name of one of the past VCs, I don't think the pushback will be this much.

erad:
You're misunderstanding me. I'm not saying it does not happen, I'm saying it's not the outgoing VC that will initial his own memorial. Another VC after him may decide to do it.

You didn’t clearly state it sir. You feigned ignorance ni sir.

The university Senate and Council can reject it. The VC can recommend it though.

My point is that it's not a big deal if it is approved. Top schools will not make this kind of trivial normal process become an issue.

The University Senate has oversight over the VC and can stop him if it so wishes without any drama. Former UNILAG VC, Late Prof. Jelili Ọmọtola (SAN) landed in trouble for approving a South Korean satellite campus of UNILAG without the university Senate approval. The University of Lagos Senate reversed his decision and sanctioned him.

Same thing can be done if this is a matured school. The university Senate can reject the proposal without any drama.

Nwaikpe:
The people of the school said it is a problem for them.
You, on Nairaland, via your keypad, are advising them on how "small schools" should behave.

If them ask you now, I am sure you never graduated from ABU, UI, OAU, or UNN.

I'm sure it is one state polytechnic.

Agbadorians truly are a fascinating species of homo sapiens. Selective outrage is their superpower. If the outgoing VC were to be from that "other" tribe, watch how quickly the same mouth would've shifted from blaming the students to blaming the outgoing VC.

Iru jagbajgaba wo niyen ..

No big deal about it at all. After all, the whole national edifice has been renamed after certain people for no good reasons.

It's more like a way of life in Nigeria from top to bottom! University of Abuja, International Conference Centre, very soon the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and possibly, Nigeria 🇳🇬 and some States too.

It is so uncalled for! Bad emilokan culture.

There is Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library.

erad:
Yes it's not... But definitely not after outgoing VCs. Besides I don't think I've seen anywhere inside OAU that was named after a VC and even if there is, definitely not recent ex VCs.

Yoruba!

Hmmm 😏


This, too, shall pass.

Characters like this are many in that state. I heard one even name community water after himself (Ibro water).

Vested interest has been a bane of staggering growth and development.

Stop using educational buildings for people’s ego except they paid for and built it out of their own pocket. Our schools built by our common wealth should not be a place for politics. I also dislike naming universities after politicians. I swear if I ever become President, that’s the first thing I reverse.

Unnecessary and irrelevant thing to fight over!

ogugwa1992:
Outcry as Federal University Lokoja FUL names prominent Senate building after outgoing VC Prof Akinwumi negating the founding fathers.



https://firstclassgist.com/outcry-as-federal-university-lokoja-ful-names-prominent-senate-building-after-outgoing-vc-prof-akinwumi-negating-the-founding-fathers/

.The VC deserve it..He brought so many development to that school. It was during his tenure that they moved to their permanent site,got a medical school and so many endowments.

Never seen a VC so humble like Prof. Akinwumi

If you know FUL, you'll know that man is the BEST THING to have happened to that university, as in, the best thing

If V.Cs can have extended tenures, that's the kind of person they're supposed to give third term, fourth term and even fifth term... What was FUL before Akinwunmi came in?

He practically upgraded them from a mushroom school with mushroom standard to where they are now. (I dare any student of FUL to counter this)

If not for tribalism, someone like him should be sent to one of the universities in the east living on past glory, to revamp the school.

He deserves the building named after him abeg... I wonder those opposing it... I hope it's not that indigene lecturers

That's very wrong...they should follow due process