UNILAG Will Retain It's Name For Now..Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed that the University of Lagos should keep its identity pending the resolution of the National Assembly on the controversial name change.

Jonathan had on June 12, 2012 announced the change of the institution’s nomenclature from University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University, leading to a protest.

The move also led to a court case, forcing the Federal Government to back down on the plan, with a request to the National Assembly to amend the law setting up the institution.

The decision of the president was made known exclusively to the Nigerian Tribune by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Rahman Bello, when the management of the newspaper paid him a courtesy visit.

He further revealed that Jonathan had decided to leave the final decision on the name change to the National Assembly, since it was an Act of Parliament that established the university.

According to him, Jonathan had agreed that the law should take its full course as regards the issue.

“Unilag is the first university in Nigeria to be established by an Act of Parliament. So, anything as regards name change and everything about the university were an Act of Parliament.

“So, anything that would affect any change whatsoever would have to go through the legislation. And that is what the president has agreed to take its course,” Bello said.

He added that the proposed name change had been sent to the National Assembly and whatever the decision House took would be final.

“So, we are waiting for that. For now, the status quo remains. We remain the University of Lagos,” the vice chancellor said.

He also revealed that the university was set to commence with the new session, a Bachelor of Arts degree course in the Chinese Language.

Noting that Unilag was the first to introduce the degree in Africa, Bello said the decision was borne out of the need to satisfy the growing Chinese influence in Nigeria and the world generally.

“There is hardly anywhere you go today without seeing one or two Chinese companies around. Since they are here with us, we must be able to take advantage and partake in the businesses as well.

“So, by offering a degree in Chinese studies, those that we will train will be able to understand the Chinese Language and culture better and be able to inter-relate between them and Nigerians and be relevant in whatever businesses the Chinese operate here,” Bello stated.