The Federal Government has announced the adoption of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State, as a Federal University.
This was disclosed in a press statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.
According to the statement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the adoption on Friday, thanking the Ogun State Government for inviting the Federal Government to take over the institution.
Tinubu stated that the initiative honors Chief Obafemi Awolowo for pioneering free education in Western Nigeria and Dr. Tai Solarin for his dedication to education and leadership at Mayflower School.
“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 impacting patriotic and leadership lessons in them at Mayflower School in Ikenne.
It is also in honour of the Awujale of Ijebuland, who played a critical role in preventing the university’s closure in 2012, just seven years after its establishment”, President Tinubu said.
Tinubu stated that the initiative honors Chief Obafemi Awolowo for pioneering free education in Western Nigeria and Dr. Tai Solarin for his dedication to education and leadership at Mayflower School.
Established by the Ogun State Government in 2005, TASUED is Nigeria’s first specialised university of education. Named after Dr Tai Solarin, a renowned activist and founder of Mayflower School in Ikenne, the institution boasts strong infrastructure and academic programmes, requiring minimal federal investment for its transition.
With TASUED’s new status, it becomes the first federally owned tertiary institution in Ogun East senatorial district.
President Tinubu emphasised that the transition of TASUED into a Federal University of Education aligns with the government’s broader strategy to enhance teacher education and improve the quality of instruction at all educational levels.
With this development, TASUED joins Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Owerri and Adeyemi Federal University of Education in Ondo as the country’s three federally owned universities of education.
