President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State, as a federal university.
This was announced in a press release on Sunday, signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Established by the Ogun State Government in 2005, TASUED prides itself on being Nigeria’s first specialized university of education.
The conversion to a university makes it the first federally owned tertiary institution in the Ogun East senatorial district.
Tinubu thanked the Ogun State Government for allowing the Federal Government to take over one of the state’s top educational assets, noting that the decision honors the legacies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Tai Solarin.
“It is an opportunity for the Federal Government to honour Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who began the revolutionary free education programme in Western Nigeria, and Dr Tai Solarin, who spent most of his life educating our children and instilling patriotic and leadership lessons in them at Mayflower School in Ikenne,” Tinubu stated.
Tinubu praised the Awujale of Ijebuland for preventing the university from closing in 2012, only seven years after its establishment.
The transition, which requires minimal federal investment due to TASUED’s well-developed infrastructure and academic programs, aligns with the Federal Government’s strategy to strengthen teacher education and improve instructional quality nationwide.
“With this adoption, the Federal Government now oversees three universities of education: TASUED, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Owerri, and Adeyemi Federal University of Education in Ondo,” the statement added.
The decision marks an important milestone in Ogun State’s educational landscape, underlining the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding higher education and recognizing the legacy of regional legends, the release concluded.
