Here's why Jonathan failed in changing UNILAG's name

The out-going Vice-Chancellor of the

The former President, Goodluck Jonathan had attempted to name the Institution after Businessman and Philanthropist, Bashorun Moshood Abiola but the University community and alumni association resisted the move.

The Vice-Chancellor who was speaking at NAN forum in Lagos on Friday, November 10, said the institution's name was retained because it was established by an act of parliament.

He said, “ the University of Lagos is the first university to be established by the Federal Government in Nigeria, historically, go and find out in 1962.

“Ibadan (University of Ibadan) was a college when the University of Lagos was established.

“It was the first to be established by an Act of Parliament.

“That is why it was difficult for (former) President Goodluck Jonathan to change the name and it was on that basis that we were able to get the name back.

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“It was after UNILAG that UI now got its own status as a federal university.

“The other universities that came around that time and before the University of Lagos were not federal universities.

‘’Nsukka, ABU and Ife were all regional universities at that time.

“It was later that the federal government took them over. As a federal university, Lagos was number one.

“And government acquired land for the University of Lagos in that environment. We have the documents.’’

Prof Rahamon Bello will vacate the Vice-Chancellor's office on Saturday, November 11 to give way for the incoming Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the 12th Vice Chancellor of the Institution.