Mr. Bolaji Oladeji, the National President of the Alumni Association of Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijagun, has expressed his delight at the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government’s decision to convert TASUED to a federal university.
The alumni stated in a statement on Monday that the federal government’s decision, as authorized by President Bola Tinubu, would undoubtedly open another window of rapid expansion for the university.
Oladeji said, “The alumni, as key stakeholders that have demonstrated continued capacity and policy drive to advance the cause of the university’s development over the years, welcome this new development with higher expectations, which are development driven.
“Members of the university community, including staff and the teeming students, are undoubtedly grateful to President Bola Tinubu for this historic kind gesture.
“We are, however, excitedly looking forward to improved funding for our dear university to positively impact the infrastructure, staff welfare, research funding, and attraction of global recognition as a university of repute, class, and distinction in teacher education.”
Similarly, Akinbodunse Praise, Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Students on Inter-Campus Affairs, thanked the Federal Government for establishing the country’s first institution of education.
Akinbodunse stated in a statement that the federal government’s generous gesture demonstrated that the current administration, led by President Tinubu, cared about the overall growth of the country’s education sector.
The NANS leader also commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for sustaining the school to date despite efforts from the previous administration to scrap the institution.
He said, “As students in the state, we will not forget that during our struggle in order not to allow the institution to be scrapped by the previous administration sometime in 2012, we lost some of our colleagues.
“We celebrate these, our colleagues, every February 14. It’s a thing of joy today that President Bola Tinubu, who has deemed it fit to elevate TASUED to a federal institution, has ensured that our efforts were not in vain.”
Praise also went to the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, and other well-meaning Nigerians who remained firm to keep the institution open.
He assured the student community that it would continue to provide the federal government with the necessary support for the benefit of all Nigerian students.
It should be noted that the Federal Government, through a statement issued on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced the recognition of Tai Solarin University of Education in Ijagun, Ogun State, as a Federal University.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
