By Peter Omopo
Makurdi | September 11, 2025 – The Benue State House of Assembly has amended the law renaming Benue State University, Makurdi, changing its title from Rev. Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University to Father Adasu University, Makurdi.
The decision followed Thursday’s debate on the report of the House Standing Committee on Higher Education during plenary.
Leading the debate, Majority Leader Saater Tiseer (APC/Mbagwa) argued that the earlier name, Rev. Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University, was “too long” and should be simplified to Father Adasu University.
The move marks the second renaming of the institution. Originally established as Benue State University, the school was renamed in December 2024 after Governor Hyacinth Alia announced the change during its combined convocation to honour the late Rev. Fr Moses Orshio Adasu, the institution’s founder and former governor of the state.
In addition, the House passed bills amending the laws establishing the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, and the College of Education, Oju, granting them the status of degree-awarding institutions.
Speaker Alfred Emberga, who presided over the sitting, directed the Clerk of the House, Dr. Bem Mela, to read the bills for the third time, after which they were passed into law.
Governor Alia, who serves as the university’s visitor, had earlier explained that the renaming was a way of immortalising Adasu’s legacy, describing him as a visionary who laid the foundation for higher education development in Benue State.
