President Bola Tinubu has announced the renaming of the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
The President made the announcement on Friday during his nationwide broadcast to mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration.
Tinubu said the decision was made in recognition of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development and national unity.
“Among the architects of modern democratic Nigeria, we honour General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for his vision of national partnership,” the President said.
He added, “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.”
The late Yar’Adua, a former military officer and prominent pro-democracy figure, died in prison in December 1997 during the regime of the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha.
He had been detained after being accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot against the Abacha government.
Yar’Adua was also the elder brother of Nigeria’s late President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who served as the country’s leader from 2007 until his death in 2010.
