Senator Yar’Adua Commends Tinubu for Renaming Specialized University in Honor of Late Brother

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Senator Abdul Aziz Yar’Adua, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, praised President Bola Tinubu for honoring the late military officer and pro‑democracy advocate General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua by renaming the Institute of Petroleum Studies in Kaduna after him.

The institution is now called the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

The renaming has attracted praise from the Yar’Adua family and political allies of the late statesman, and is seen as a major national tribute to one of Nigeria’s most influential political figures whose contributions to democratic development are still felt decades after his death.

In a statement released yesterday, Senator Yar’Adua, who represents Katsina Central Senatorial District, expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu and the federal government for what he described as a historic honour bestowed on his late brother.

He said the renaming goes beyond simply attaching a name to a public facility; it represents a national acknowledgment of General Yar’Adua’s lasting legacy in nation‑building, democratic advocacy and public service.

The senator noted that the late military leader distinguished himself as a soldier, statesman and democrat who remained committed to strengthening institutions and promoting a Nigeria founded on merit, patriotism and equal opportunity.

Yar’Adua said the decision will ensure that future generations of students at the university will continually be reminded of the values that defined the late general’s life—sacrifice, visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to national development.

He emphasized that the new university will serve not only as a centre of academic excellence but also as a lasting monument to the ideals of leadership and service that General Yar’Adua championed throughout his lifetime.

The lawmaker added that students pursuing careers in geology, engineering and technological innovation at the institution will draw inspiration from the late statesman’s example and his contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution.

General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua remains one of the most prominent figures in Nigerian political history. Widely respected across regional and political divides, he played key roles in both military administration and the country’s transition toward democratic governance.