A socio-cultural group based in Sokoto, the Sokoto Heritage Reloaded Initiative, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to fulfil a longstanding pledge made by his predecessor, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, to immortalise Nigeria’s first executive president, Shehu Shagari.
Speaking during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Sokoto on Saturday, the convener of the group, Professor Uthman Abdulkadir, reminded the nation that Buhari had, during a condolence visit to Sokoto following Shagari’s death in 2018, promised to name a national monument after the late statesman—a promise that remained unfulfilled until the end of his tenure.
Professor Abdulkadir made a heartfelt appeal to President Tinubu, invoking the president’s known loyalty and long-standing political alliance with Buhari, and urged him to carry out the promise in the interest of historical justice and national unity.
“Mr. President, history will always remember you as a man of loyalty and principle — a leader who stood shoulder to shoulder with your predecessor, even before the corridors of power were within reach,” he said.
Highlighting Shagari’s contributions to Nigeria’s educational development, Abdulkadir noted that the late president pioneered the idea of distance learning through the establishment of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), which was first conceived during his administration.
The group proposed that President Tinubu rename NOUN as the Shehu Shagari Open University of Nigeria, describing it as a fitting tribute to Shagari’s legacy of inclusive education, humility, and service to the nation.
“By doing this, Mr. President, you would not only honour a great son of Nigeria but also write your name in gold as the leader who upheld promises made in good faith,” the statement added.
The group expressed confidence in Tinubu’s respect for national icons and commitment to unity, calling on him to seize this opportunity to cement his leadership in the annals of Nigerian history.
“In honouring Shehu Shagari, you honour the values of humility, service, and patriotism that define the Nigerian spirit,” Abdulkadir concluded.
