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First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has established a N50-million endowment at the Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State.
Mrs. Tinubu’s gesture took place during the university’s transfer from the Ogun State government to the Federal Government and the institution’s 17th convocation ceremony.
The First Lady also donated 50 CNG buses and 30 tricycles yesterday to students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the transfer of TASFUED in March last year.
During the convocation ceremony, Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the formal handover of the nation’s premier education varsity.
The First Lady, who was represented by the Vice President’s wife, Hajia Hana Shettima, was decorated with the award of Doctor of Science (honoris causa) in Childhood Education.
Former Governor Olusegun Osoba was also bestowed with the award of Doctor of Science in Political Science(honoris causa).
Mrs. Tinubu endowed the TASFUED’s Department of Childhood Education with N10 million for the best graduating female students for 10 years.
The First Lady promised to continue encouraging any noble cause that promotes education, children, and Nigerian youths as well as to bestow the overall best graduate with N1.5 million.
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She urged the graduates to be “worthy ambassadors” of their great alma mater and Nigeria.
Governor Abiodun described the transfer as a “historic transition” and an epoch in the annals of the state and the TASFUED.
During the convocation, 4,785 graduates from the 2024/2025 set of regular students were rolled out.
A breakdown of the number showed that 40 obtained First Class Honours; 1,466 obtained Second Class Upper Division; 2,768 made Second Class Lower Division, while 492 and 19 obtained Third Class and Pass degrees.
Nineteen-year-old Gbolahan Edward Awofala of the Department of Computer Science was the overall best graduate with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.92.
The state government gifted Awofala N2 million for his feat, while each of the 40 First-Class graduates got N500,000.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) transferring TASUED from the state to the Federal Government was signed by Governor Abiodun on behalf of the state government and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, signed on behalf of the Federal Government.
The session was witnessed by the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello; Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adekunle Adeogun, and the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu.
Abiodun, who was decorated with the award of Doctor of Science (honotis causa) in Education at the occasion, acknowledged the vital role of the new Visitor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, towards Federal Government’s adoption of TASFUED.
The governor hailed the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, for “indeed working very hard and facilitating it” to a successful end.
He said the adoption and subsequent transfer helped in balancing and equity.
Abiodun noted that Ogun East now has a federal university, as was the case in the Ogun Central and Ogun West.
He said the university was established to address gaps in pedagogy identified in conventional universities, particularly in teacher education, emphasising that the institution focuses on academic education alongside practical skills for self-reliance.
Abiodun said TASFUED has grown from about 3,800 students and four colleges to six colleges, adding that the expansion reflected depth, intellectual ambition, and a clear affirmation of quality, discipline, and institutional integrity.
He congratulated the graduates on the successful completion of their studies in flying colours and charged them to bear a unique responsibility to shape minds as nation-builders.
Dignitaries at the event included Deputy Governor Noimot Oyedele-Salako; the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Rasaq Adenugba; the Gbegande of Ososa-Ijebu, Oba (Dr.) Toye Alatishe; the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Matemilola; the Limeri of Awa-Ijebu, Oba Amos Awobajo; and the Akporu of Ilaporu, Oba Jimoh Quadri.
During her donation to the OAU, Mrs. Tinubu was joined by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; wife of Osun State governor, Mrs. Titilayo Adeleke; wife of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, and other wives of Nigerian governors.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole; the Osun APC governorship candidate, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji and other party bigwigs.
The First Lady said she inaugurated the buses and tricycles for use at the sport arena of the institution.
The OAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, hailed Senator Tinubu for the gesture.
He said: “We thank the First Lady for her generosity to the school. She is one of the most shining stars of the school. We are very happy for her donations to the development of the school.“We are happy for the donation of 50 buses and 40 tricycles for students and staff of OAU. These will ease the burden of transportation of staff and students and members of the community as well as enhance the quality of their lives as well.”
Also, the OAU Students’ Union President, Oluwatodimu David, eulogised Mrs. Tinubu for the donation, noting that it will go a long way to ease the transportation challenges that they are facing.
He said: “We are happy for the donation of 50 buses and 30 tricycles for students and staff of OAU. It will ease the burden of transformation of staff and students and members of the community and enhance the quality of their lives as well. This is in line with our administration’s ambition; now it is a reality.”
“We also commend her for the campus beautification project and the renovation of the Amphitheatre, which has enhanced the growth of our school. We thank her a lot. She is not just a mother of the nation but that of the OAU community specially.”
