Nigerian human rights lawyer and public affairs commentator, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has strongly criticised the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, over a legislative proposal seeking to establish a federal university named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the move as misplaced priority and political glorification.
The controversy follows a bill sponsored by Kalu and some lawmakers for the creation of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu University of Nigerian Languages, a specialised institution intended to promote the teaching, preservation and development of indigenous Nigerian languages. Proponents of the bill argue that Nigeria faces an existential threat to many of its native tongues and requires a dedicated national institution to safeguard linguistic heritage and cultural diversity.
However, Odinkalu faulted the naming of a public university after a sitting president, warning that such initiatives risk eroding democratic norms and institutional neutrality. He questioned the urgency of attaching Tinubu’s name to a proposed federal institution at a time Nigeria faces severe economic strain, insecurity and governance challenges.
In remarks that have circulated widely in civic and political circles, Odinkalu framed the proposal as emblematic of a political culture that prioritises personal legacy projects over substantive national needs. He argued that public resources and legislative attention should focus on improving existing universities, expanding access to education, and addressing systemic funding deficits rather than creating new institutions tied to incumbent political figures.
The human rights scholar’s criticism mirrors broader public unease that has trailed the proposal since it surfaced in the National Assembly. Critics contend that naming federal institutions after serving leaders undermines principles of modesty in public office and risks politicising academic spaces. They also argue that such honours are traditionally reserved for historical figures after their tenure, allowing for objective national assessment of their contributions.
Supporters of the bill within legislative circles reject claims of political hero-worship. They maintain that the proposed university is conceptually driven by Nigeria’s urgent need to preserve endangered languages and foster national cohesion through linguistic scholarship. According to proponents, attaching Tinubu’s name recognises his administration’s stated commitment to cultural revival and education reform, while also providing symbolic visibility to the language-preservation mission.
Kalu, who has sponsored several tertiary-education establishment bills in recent years, has positioned the initiative within a broader legislative agenda aimed at expanding specialised federal institutions across the country. Allies of the Deputy Speaker note that multiple education-sector bills he supported have already received presidential assent, reflecting what they describe as a strategic push to address gaps in technical, cultural and professional training.
Nevertheless, the Tinubu-named university proposal remains politically sensitive because the president is still in office. Analysts observe that the debate touches a deeper tension in Nigerian governance between state-building symbolism and perceptions of elite self-celebration. In a climate of public austerity, unemployment and deteriorating infrastructure, initiatives perceived as commemorative rather than functional often attract heightened scrutiny.
Odinkalu’s intervention has therefore amplified an already polarised conversation about legislative priorities and political culture. For governance advocates, his criticism underscores the need for restraint in honouring incumbents and for stricter criteria governing the naming of public institutions. For defenders of the bill, the backlash reflects a tendency to politicise educational development efforts regardless of substantive merit.
As debate continues, the fate of the proposed Bola Ahmed Tinubu University of Nigerian Languages will likely hinge not only on legislative procedure but also on public perception of its intent. Whether viewed as a visionary cultural project or an unnecessary tribute, the controversy has once again spotlighted the intersection of symbolism, policy and political legacy in Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.
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