UNILAG: What is in a name?

Custom Search

Online media

Newspapers

President Goodluck Jonathan, in his Democracy Day address to the nation on
Tuesday, May 29, 2012, announced the decision of the Federal Government to
rename the University of Lagos, Akoka, in honour of the late icon of democracy,
Chief Moshood Kasimawo Abiola, the widely-acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993
presidential election. The election was reputed to be the freest and fairest poll
Nigeria has ever had, but was unjustly and inexplicably annulled by Ibrahim
Babangida, thereby denying Abiola access to the Presidency. With the Federal
Government order, the name of the university was changed from the University of
Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, Lagos just like that!

The renaming of the university immediately evoked various feelings, which can all be
summed up in the question: What is in a name? A name is an identification tag. It
tells people who a person, nation, an institution or organisation is and by which the
object is called. Once a name is given, it assumes an identity which transcends
and is bigger than the individual, organisation, institution or nation to which it
applies. It is by the name that other people, organisations or institutions identify and
relate to the person to whom the name applies. In the case of UNILAG, the name is
an international identity because the university has international relationships,
partnerships and collaboration programmes. For the University of Lagos, as for other
similar institutions, the name is also a brand identity. Many people generally
identify the University of Lagos as UNILAG. With the renaming of the university, the
identity will inevitably change. International partners are likely to continuously seek
clarification/reassurance that Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, is the same
University of Lagos that they had a relationship with. This also has serious
implications for the certificates issued by the university and its teeming alumni who
carry the university’s certificates and degrees. It will also have serious implications
for current students whose certificates may bear the new name, Moshood Abiola
University, Lagos, especially if they wish to go abroad for further studies, as many
foreign institutions would ordinarily think the Moshood Abiola University, Lagos is a
new university. Their certificates are likely to be held in abeyance until satisfactory
clarifications are made. Thus, such students may suffer for actions that they had no
hand in making. The argument here is that as an identity tag, names should not be
changed arbitrarily. Otherwise, there will be confusion about identity and
identification, and there may be a denial of access to certain privileges and
opportunities. International travellers who have passports bearing different names
can attest to this.

There is no doubt that the decision to change the name of the University of Lagos
would have been taken after deliberation by the Federal Executive Council. It is also
indisputable that the owner or proprietor of a structure, organisation or institution
can decide to change the name as it pleases. Therefore, it is indisputable that the
Federal Government has the power to change the name of one of its institutions – in
this case, the University of Lagos – as it pleases. However, weighty decisions such
as the renaming of an international academic institution should be taken only after a
careful consideration of the pros and cons. What are the pros and cons in this
instance? Could the desire to honour a well-deserving national icon have been
achieved through a different decision with minimal negative consequences?
Chief M.K.O. Abiola deserves this honour by the Federal Government and much
more. Perhaps, what the government could have considered doing is to name some
other federal institutions or structures that would not have as much destabilising
consequences as renaming the University of Lagos. Or the government could have
established a new university which can be named after the democracy icon. In
another vein, it may be argued that as a national hero, the honour accorded the late
Abiola should not be restricted to the South-West – the geopolitical zone that he
came from – perhaps naming a befitting structure in the Federal Capital Territory
would have accorded him a better national honour.

This is an undemocratic way of honouring the icon of democracy in Nigeria! There
was no consultation with the stakeholders (the University Governing Council, the
management, the University Senate, the staff and the students, the alumni, etc.)
before the order for renaming was announced. In this regard, it stands to reason to
observe that the leeway to take arbitrary decisions such as this without carrying the
stakeholders along is one of the reasons for the foot-dragging by the government
about the granting of university autonomy in Nigeria! The renaming by fiat has
serious implications for institutional autonomy. Arbitrary decision-making, political
interference and erosion of university autonomy are also part of the reasons for the
relatively low ranking of Nigerian universities in the global ranking of universities. It is
unimaginable for any government or political leader to change the name of Oxford
University or Cambridge University or Harvard University or any other international
university! Whatever we do, we should adopt the Best Practices. We should also go
in the direction of international institutions in order to ensure better ranking of our
universities and to ensure that our universities are accorded the respect they
deserve and that they occupy their rightful place.

So, what is in a name? The Yoruba believe that a name has implications for a
person’s behaviour (This is what they mean when they say oruko nro o). Moshood
Abiola University, Lagos (MAUL) – what does it mean to maul somebody or an
institution?

Now that the Federal Executive Council has ordered the renaming of the University
of Lagos, the next question is: what impact is the renaming going to have on the
fortune of the university? How does the Federal Government intend to make the
renaming reflect in the funding and infrastructural development of the university?
Apart from image problems, as well as social and psychological consequences for
the university and its stakeholders, the renaming of the university will also have
serious financial implications, including the cost of changing name plates, tags,
advertisement, etc. It could also lead to a reduction of reputation, which may also
have financial implications, It would be interesting to know how the Federal
Government plans to assuage these effects. Also, what are the legal implications?
The University of Lagos was established by an Act of Parliament. Of course, it may
be argued that the same government that ordered the change of name would also
effect the necessary legal changes.

This is an unpopular decision that the government would be best advised to rescind,
as it is likely to have more negative consequences than positive ones. Again, what
is in a name? Whatever name we call it, the University of Lagos will remain the
University of First Choice and the nation’s pride!

We may conclude by noting in the usual parlance as follows: “By the order of the
Federal Government of Nigeria, the institution, formerly known as the University of
Lagos, is now to be known as Moshood Abiola University, Lagos. All former
documents remain valid”.

| More

Comments posted on this site are moderated. Avoid abusive, rude or vulgar words.
-Editor, African Examiner

blog comments powered by Disqus

Leave a comment

_______________________________________________________________________________

News, Politics, Sports
about Nigeria and all Africa

Get our News Update fast, download AE Toolbar!
Click here to download Now!

Pointblank News

vinfish.blogspot.

huhuonline.com

sharpedgenews