Ogun State Government has formally handed over Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, to the Federal Government, marking a major milestone in the institution’s transition to federal status and Nigeria’s push to strengthen teacher education.
Governor Dapo Abiodun sealed the transfer on Thursday during the university’s 17th convocation ceremony, where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, who represented the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa.
The event was also marked by a major boost for female education as the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, announced a N50m endowment fund for the overall best graduating female student of the institution over a 10-year period.
The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, said the fund was dedicated to promoting girl-child education and academic excellence.
Abiodun said the elevation of the university to federal status reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving legacy institutions and strengthening teacher education as a strategic pillar of national development.
“This adoption advances national equity by balancing the geographical spread of federal universities, while honouring distinguished champions of education in the Ijebu-Remo axis, including the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the late Chief Bisi Onabanjo,” the governor said.
He also acknowledged the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, whose intervention, he said, was instrumental to the survival of the institution at a critical point in its history.
Tracing the university’s evolution, Abiodun said TASUED began as a College of Education in 1978 before attaining university status in January 2025, with an initial population of about 3,800 students.
He noted that the institution has since grown significantly, offering 63 undergraduate programmes, 46 master’s degrees and 42 doctoral programmes, with an undergraduate population now exceeding 35,000.
“At this juncture, I formally declare that Ogun State has today released the erstwhile Tai Solarin University of Education to the Federal Government of Nigeria, with all authorities and responsibilities appertaining to its new status as a federal institution,” he added.
The Federal Government had announced the takeover of the institution in March 2025 as part of efforts to reposition teacher education and improve manpower development in the sector.
Speaking after receiving an honorary doctorate degree in Child Education, Mrs Tinubu described education as the foundation of individual empowerment and national transformation, adding that the Tinubu administration would continue to prioritise meaningful investment in the sector.
“In line with my commitment to supporting education, particularly girl-child education, I am announcing a N50m endowment fund for the overall best graduating female students of this university for a period of 10 years,” she said.
She urged the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of the institution and contribute meaningfully to national development.
Also honoured at the ceremony were former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who received an honorary doctorate in Political Science, and Governor Abiodun, who was awarded a doctorate in Education Management.
The acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adekunle Adeogun, disclosed that a total of 4,717 students graduated at the convocation, including 40 first-class graduates, 1,466 second-class upper, 2,768 second-class lower, 492 third class and 19 pass degree holders, alongside 384 postgraduate graduates.
He commended the Federal Government for the takeover, saying it had already brought significant improvements in infrastructure and institutional capacity.
Meanwhile, Gbolahan Awofala, a Computer Science graduate with a CGPA of 4.92, emerged as the overall best graduating student and received N2m from the Ogun State Government and an additional N1.5m from the First Lady.
Abiodun urged the graduates to deploy the skills acquired during their studies to address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges and contribute to national development, describing the university’s journey as proof that “with clear direction and collective resolve, institutions can rise, endure and continue to inspire generations.”
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