Top 5 Nigerian Monuments Now Named After Political Leaders

The names of our most important public places have been named after prominent political leaders in Nigeria. 

From the nation’s capital to its regional hubs, governments have repeatedly swapped out original titles in favour of former officeholders, and each change carries its own story. 

Here are the top 5 Nigerian Monuments Now Named After Political Leaders:

1. Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja

Original Name: National Stadium, Abuja
Year of Change: 2019
Renamed By: President Muhammadu Buhari

The stadium built for the 2003 All-Africa Games stood for years simply as the National Stadium. On Democracy Day 2019, President Buhari issued a decree renaming it after Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola, who many believe won the annulled 1993 presidential election.

Supporters saw it as finally acknowledging Abiola’s sacrifice for democracy. Critics, however, felt the move was more political posturing than genuine tribute, coming decades after his death.

2. Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

Original Name: Lagos International Airport
Year of Change: 1976
Renamed By: General Olusegun Obasanjo

Just weeks after the assassination of Head of State Murtala Muhammed in February 1976, his successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, gave Nigeria’s busiest airport a new name.

Ever since, every arriving passenger sees Murtala Muhammad’s name, an enduring reminder of his short but sweeping reforms in the military and civil service.

To many, the renaming felt fitting. Others argued it set a precedent for renaming without broader public consultation.

3. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka

Original Name: Anambra State University of Technology
Year of Change: 1991
Renamed By: Federal Government of Nigeria

When the federal government took over the Anambra State University of Technology in 1991, it also rechristened the campus after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first President and a champion of Pan‑African unity.

The name Azikiwe University signals pride in Igbo heritage and celebrates Zik’s lifelong fight for self‑rule. Yet some locals still call it “Tech,” showing how original names can persist in everyday speech even after official change.

4. Muhammadu Buhari University, Maiduguri

Original Name: University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)
Year of Change: 2025
Renamed By: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

In a surprising 2025 decision, President Tinubu renamed his predecessor’s home‑state campus in honour of President Buhari. The announcement came during a Federal Executive Council session dedicated to Buhari’s memory.

While supporters hailed it as a heartfelt tribute to a former leader, opponents called it premature, arguing that universities should remain politically neutral and that UNIMAID already had strong brand recognition.

5. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile‑Ife

Original Name: University of Ife
Year of Change: 1987
Renamed By: Federal Government of Nigeria

Perhaps one of the most broadly welcomed renamings, the University of Ife became Obafemi Awolowo University in 1987 to honour Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a towering figure in Nigeria’s drive for independence and educational reform.

Students and alumni embraced “OAU” as a badge of pride, and the campus chants of “OAU! OAU!” still echo in lecture halls. This change is often cited as a model for how renaming can uplift a university’s identity rather than simply serve political ends.