The Ogun State Government has formally transferred the Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, to the Federal Government, bringing to an end 21 years of state ownership of the specialised institution.
The transfer was sealed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Governor Dapo Abiodun, on behalf of the Ogun State Government, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmed, who represented the Federal Government.
The signing took place during the 17th convocation ceremony of the university.
The event was witnessed by the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adekunle Adeogun, and the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, alongside other dignitaries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Abiodun described the handover as a historic transition, noting that the decision marked a defining moment in the life of the institution and in the education history of the state.
He traced the roots of TASUED to 1978 when it was established as the Ogun State College of Education to award the National Certificate in Education.
According to him, the institution was initially affiliated with the University of Ibadan for its Bachelor of Education programmes and later with Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, for Bachelor of Technology degrees and the Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
The governor explained that the college later evolved into a specialised university in response to a national need to address gaps in pedagogy, particularly the depth and quality of teacher preparation for foundational education.
He said the university was deliberately designed to combine academic learning with vocational and entrepreneurial training, so that graduates would leave school with practical skills for self reliance, in addition to academic knowledge.
Abiodun added that the vision behind the institution also included the establishment of a national resource centre for Colleges and Institutes of Education, aimed at improving teaching quality and learning outcomes across the country.
He noted that the university adopted a collegiate system similar to faculty structures in conventional universities and, by the 2005 2006 academic session, following guidance from the National Universities Commission, had expanded to four colleges, 18 departments, 38 academic options, and a student population of about 3,800.
According to him, TASUED has continued to grow significantly and now stands with six colleges, offering 63 undergraduate programmes, 46 master’s programmes, and 42 doctoral programmes, reflecting what he described as depth, growth, and academic ambition.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was honoured at the convocation, said the recognition would further motivate her to support initiatives that promote education, especially for children and young people.
Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, the First Lady urged the graduating students to be worthy ambassadors of the institution and the country wherever they find themselves.
Senator Tinubu received a doctoral degree from the Department of Childhood Education and also endowed the best graduating female student in the department with ₦50 million, to be disbursed over a period of 10 years.
Earlier, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adekunle Adeogun, disclosed that the 17th convocation produced 4,717 graduands.
He said 40 students graduated with First Class honours, 1,466 earned Second Class Upper Division, 2,768 obtained Second Class Lower Division, 492 graduated with Third Class, while 19 earned Pass degrees. He added that the Postgraduate School produced 384 graduates.
Adeogun charged the graduands to go into the world with confidence, teach with passion, and uphold the values and name of the university.
The overall best graduating student, Edward Awofala, who recorded a CGPA of 4.92, received ₦1.5 million from the First Lady, while Governor Abiodun also awarded him ₦2 million in recognition of his academic excellence.
