The introduction of a bill in the Nigerian House of Representatives seeking to establish the “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal University of Nigerian Languages” is an unfortunate reminder of the National Assembly’s growing detachment from public sentiment and intellectual rigor. This ill-conceived move, spearheaded by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and his fellow backers, signals a blatant disregard for both the needs of the Nigerian people and the integrity of the country’s higher education system.

At the heart of this bill is the alarming question: what exactly qualifies President Bola Tinubu for such an honor? Naming an institution after an individual is typically reserved for those who have made extraordinary contributions in the relevant field. In this case, the proposed university is meant to promote the study of Nigeria’s indigenous languages and cultures. Tinubu, however, is neither a polyglot in local languages nor a cultural figure of note. He is not known for championing the preservation or promotion of Nigeria’s linguistic heritage. The choice to name this university after him smacks of opportunism and serves as a troubling example of how far the legislative branch is willing to go to foster a dangerous cult of personality around the president.

This bill comes at a time when existing universities across Nigeria are underfunded and struggling. The proliferation of new federal universities has been driven by the shallow ambitions of legislators seeking “federal presence” in their constituencies, without consideration for whether these institutions can actually function effectively. Instead of tackling the structural issues that plague Nigerian universities—poor funding, inadequate facilities, and brain drain—the National Assembly seems more interested in hollow gestures that flatter the executive branch. The establishment of yet another university, under the guise of honoring a president who has barely spent 17 months in office, is an affront to reason and a gross misallocation of resources.

Worse still is the symbolism behind the bill. It is not enough that Tinubu is the president—he must also be immortalized with a university dedicated to preserving Nigerian languages, an area where he has no notable expertise or accomplishments. What this bill truly reflects is the legislative branch’s eagerness to curry favor with the president, to the point of undermining the very principles of merit and intellectual achievement that should define the country’s academic institutions.

Let us be clear: if a university must be established in honor of President Tinubu, it should reflect his real contributions. Perhaps a university devoted to the study of “winning elections the Nigerian way” would be more fitting. After all, Tinubu has distinguished himself in the fine art of political maneuvering, electoral gymnastics, result sheet calligraphy, and advanced studies in “go-to-court” triumphalism. At least then we'd be acknowledging his true legacy.

The Nigerian people deserve better from their legislators. Rather than elevating individuals with hollow honors, the legislators should be focusing on tangible improvements in education, healthcare, and the economy—areas where Nigeria is in dire need of reform. The fact that such a bill even passed the first reading in the House of Representatives speaks volumes about the intellectual poverty that currently pervades the National Assembly. It is a disheartening reminder that, for too many of the lawmakers, sycophancy trumps service.

In an era where Nigeria is grappling with unprecedented economic challenges, widespread hunger, and policy failures, the last thing the country needs is another vanity project that serves no purpose other than to inflate the ego of the ruling class. If the National Assembly truly cared about honoring contributions to Nigerian society, they would focus their energies on meaningful reforms, not on perpetuating a cult of personality that further alienates them from the people they claim to represent.

Let this bill die the death it deserves!