The Federal Government has officially taken over the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State, granting it federal university status.
President Bola Tinubu approved the transition on Friday, following a request from the Ogun State Government to transfer ownership of the institution.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Presidency described the move as a tribute to the educational legacies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Tai Solarin, both of whom played key roles in advancing education in the region.
“This transition allows the Federal Government to honour Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a pioneer of free education in Western Nigeria, and Dr. Tai Solarin, who dedicated his life to instilling leadership and patriotic values in young students at Mayflower School, Ikenne,” President Tinubu stated.
He also recognized the contribution of the Awujale of Ijebuland in ensuring that the university remained operational after facing the threat of closure in 2012, just seven years after its establishment.
The decision to make TASUED a Federal University of Education aligns with the government’s broader strategy to enhance teacher education and improve instructional quality across the country. Given its well-established academic structure and facilities, the institution is expected to require minimal federal investment for the transition.
Founded in 2005 by the Ogun State Government, TASUED was Nigeria’s first university dedicated solely to education. With its new federal status, it also becomes the first federally owned tertiary institution in Ogun East senatorial district.
TASUED now joins Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, and Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, as one of only three universities in Nigeria specializing in teacher education.
