President Bola Tinubu has renamed the Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

Tinubu announced the decision on Friday during his 2026 Democracy Day broadcast, where he also reflected on Nigeria’s democratic journey and urged unity and national purpose.

The President said the renaming was in recognition of the late military officer’s role in Nigeria’s political development and transition to civilian rule. He described Yar’Adua as one of the figures who contributed significantly to shaping modern democratic governance in the country.

“In recognition of his contributions, the federal government has approved the revitalisation and renaming of the completed Institute of Petroleum Studies, Kaduna, as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology,” Tinubu said in the broadcast.

Shehu Musa Yar’Adua served as Chief of Staff of the Supreme Headquarters between 1976 and 1979 under then Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo, playing a key role in Nigeria’s first voluntary transition from military rule to civilian government. After retiring from the military, he later founded the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), which influenced Nigeria’s political landscape.

He was later arrested during the Sani Abacha military regime on charges of treasonable felony and died in prison in 1997 under controversial circumstances.

The announcement came as part of Tinubu’s wider Democracy Day address in which he called for unity, rejected division, and urged Nigerians to focus on prosperity and national development.