TASFUED federal takeover marked as Ogun Governor hands over university; Tinubu’s wife announces N50m endowment for top female graduate for 10 years

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday formally handed over Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, to the Federal Government during the institution’s 17th convocation ceremony, marking a historic milestone in teacher education in Nigeria.

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The Memorandum of Understanding for the transfer was signed by Governor Abiodun and the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad.

The event also saw the First Lady of Nigeria, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, who received an honorary doctorate in child education, announce a N50 million endowment fund to support the overall best graduating female student annually for the next ten years.

The announcement was dedicated to the advancement of girl-child education and delivered on her behalf by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima.

Governor Abiodun and former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, were also honoured with honorary doctorate degrees in Education Management and Political Science, respectively.

The Federal Government had officially announced the takeover of the university in March 2025 to bolster teacher education nationwide.

Speaking at the convocation, Abiodun said the elevation of TASFUED to federal status reinforces the government’s commitment to preserving legacy institutions and strengthening teacher education as a strategic pillar of national development.

He hailed President Bola Tinubu for approving the takeover, emphasising that it enhances equity in the geographical spread of federal universities and promotes access to quality education.

“The adoption of this university by the Federal Government 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,” Abiodun said.

The governor also acknowledged the role of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Dr Sikiru Kayode Adetona, whose intervention was instrumental in sustaining the university during critical periods of its history.

Tracing the university’s journey, Abiodun noted that TASFUED began as the College of Education in 1978 and was transformed into a university in January 2025 with an initial student population of 3,800. The institution now offers 63 undergraduate programmes, 46 Master’s programmes, and 42 PhD programmes, serving over 35,000 undergraduates.

Abiodun declared, “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 urged the graduating students to apply their educational skills to address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.

The overall best graduating student, Gbolahan Awofala of Computer Science, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.92, received N2 million from the Ogun State government and an additional N1.5 million from the First Lady.

In her address, Mrs Tinubu highlighted her lifelong commitment to promoting access to quality education and lifelong learning, stressing that education remains a critical pillar of national development. She encouraged graduates to be worthy ambassadors of the university and country.

The Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Adekunle Adeogun, said the convocation produced 4,717 graduands, including 40 First Class, 1,466 Second Class Upper, 2,768 Second Class Lower, 492 Third Class, and 19 Pass Degree holders, alongside 384 postgraduate graduates.

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He praised the federal takeover for improving infrastructure and institutional transformation, urging graduates to teach with passion and uphold the university’s reputation.