TASUED Convocation: National Endorsement, Not A Snub
“A snub, by definition, implies deliberate exclusion or rejection. The sequence of events at TASUED — federal representation, formal agreements, public commendation, and financial endowment — demonstrates the opposite”
By Kola Aderohunmu
Recent attempts to frame the 17th Convocation Ceremony of the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, as a political slight against Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, are rooted more in conjecture than in fact. A careful review of the events shows clear national validation rather than any marginalisation.
At the heart of the convocation was the formal transfer of TASUED from Ogun State ownership to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The transition was concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Governor Abiodun and the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In governance practice, ministerial representation constitutes full executive presence, making any suggestion of a snub logically inconsistent.
The ceremony also marked TASUED’s transformation into the Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, a development that ensures stronger funding, institutional stability, staff welfare, and long-term academic sustainability. This milestone reflects deliberate national policy rather than political marginalisation.
Claims regarding the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, are similarly misplaced. She was represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, who conveyed goodwill and announced a ₦50 million endowment fund for the best graduating female student. Representation accompanied by a tangible educational intervention cannot reasonably be construed as disregard.
The convocation also included the conferment of honorary degrees on distinguished Nigerians, including former Governor Olusegun Osoba and Governor Abiodun. University authorities, led by the Pro-Chancellor and Acting Vice-Chancellor, publicly acknowledged the contributions of both the Federal and Ogun State Governments to a seamless transition while affirming the institution’s record of full programme accreditation. These actions reflect institutional validation rather than political symbolism.
Much of the controversy appears to stem from a tendency among some commentators to frame positive developments as political controversies. Milestones are recast as disputes, and policy achievements are interpreted with suspicion rather than evidence.
Governor Abiodun’s administration has demonstrated measurable commitment to education, exemplified by a ₦275.4 billion allocation to the sector in the 2026 budget. The federalisation of TASUED aligns with this commitment and complements the Federal Government’s broader education reform agenda.
A snub, by definition, implies deliberate exclusion or rejection. The sequence of events at TASUED — federal representation, formal agreements, public commendation, and financial endowment — demonstrates the opposite. The 17th convocation will be remembered not as a political slight, but as a landmark in institutional advancement achieved through intergovernmental cooperation.
Ultimately, facts retain their authority regardless of narratives constructed around them, and it is these facts that will define the legacy of the event.
