Group urges Tinubu to honour Buhari’s pledge to immortalize Shehu Shagari

By Gbolahan Salman Sokoto

A civic group, Sokoto Heritage Reloaded Initiative, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fulfil a promise made by former President Muhammadu Buhari to immortalize Nigeria’s first elected Executive President, Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari.

Speaking at a press conference held Saturday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Sokoto, the group reminded the federal government of Buhari’s public commitment during a condolence visit to Shagari’s family in December 2018.

The late President Buhari, in a letter read by then-Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, had mourned Shagari as a “landmark figure” and “virtually our last link to the post-independence government of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa.” He promised that the Federal Government would, in due course, institute a “suitable memorial” in honour of the late elder statesman.

Professor Uthman Abdulkadir, who addressed the media on behalf of the group, urged President Tinubu to demonstrate leadership continuity by fulfilling that promise.

“Shehu Shagari was more than a leader — he symbolized humility, integrity, and a deep commitment to national unity,” Abdulkadir said. “His legacy in education, particularly his vision for expanding access through distance learning, lives on today.”

The professor noted that Shagari’s administration conceived the idea of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as a vehicle for inclusive higher education. He proposed that NOUN be renamed the Shehu Shagari Open University of Nigeria as a fitting tribute.

“Renaming NOUN would not only honour a patriotic son of Nigeria but also reinforce the principle that the nation keeps its promises — even across administrations,” Abdulkadir added. “It would be a powerful message that we are a country that values legacy and remembers those who served with honour.”

Shagari, who governed Nigeria from 1979 to 1983, is remembered for his modest lifestyle, commitment to national unity, and focus on rural development and education.