The then Polytechnic of Lafia was renamed to ISA Mustafa Agwai Polytechnic around 2024 last two years. I wasn't happy with the renaming looking at the naming structure and the real status of the school in the entire state. I'm not going to express my wholesome displeasure about the government decision to rename the school after a certain individual, but whatever the reason was, I wish they would have aesthetically considered a more nice and simple name for the school, maybe just nice acronyms.
My input regarding naming facilities and infrastructures remains that, the government should prioritise picking names of people that there impact to the state and society can be visibly traced and testified upon. When that is done, I really don't think there might be any need to change the name of that infrastructure any longer. Let's take for instance that every government that comes to power changes the name of all schools and other government buildings to whatever maybe their choices. That won't give a sound meaning and of course, it'll bring confusion among the people.
I honestly don't like the idea of renaming schools and other infrastructures. I feel the bulk of the decision lies in the majorly in the naming of the building at at when it was first built or established. If the naming is done very well, there will be no need to rename.
Let's say, eventually it happens that after naming a place or institution, we get to find out that the barrier of that name isn't worthy of that public recognition as the theme for Hive Learners says, would it make sense for me that the name should be change? I would say yes, if it is actually confirmed beyond every reasonable doubt that the person is of bad example to the public but the thing is, no man can ever please every body on the surface of the earth. You get to do only your best and then leave the rest. The scenario can be that this particular person who's name is depicted by some people as the bad guy, might probably be the good guy to some other people.
I don't know the scale of judging people's behaviour before getting to use their names on public properties, but whoever turns out to be the leader owns the people that favour of making sure the right naming of government properties is done. When this is done properly, I don't think there's any need for changing names of infrastructures because if every leadership that assumes power would do like that, they'll end up creating a state of confusion in the minds of the people.
Renaming or uprooting statue of certain persons because you later find out they're not good people can make allot of sense and at the same time become problematic. If allot of witnesses attest to the fact that the person is not worthy of the recognition, I see no reason why reasonable actions shouldn't be taken over the situation.
This is my entry for Hive Learners weekly contest for week 204 edition 2.
