Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said Federal Government decided to turn Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) into a federal institution, to ensure fair distribution of federal universities in Ogun State.
TASUED, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, was established by the Ogun State Government in 2005.
Speaking during an interview with reporters in Abeokuta, Prince Abiodun said the move was meant not only to ensure balance in the distribution of federal educational institutions in the state, but also to attract more funding, to make it a model centre of academic excellence in the country.
He said: “When I assumed office, I stated that we would be fair, just and equitable. But when you look at the balance of these institutions, particularly federal institutions, you realise it is ideal to have a federal institution in that particular district in addition to the existing ones in the other districts.
“I know that because of paucity of funds, it is not easy for the Federal Government to start a greenfield institution. So I looked around and thought it would be best to present a request to our President to take over one of our foremost institutions in Ogun East Senatorial District. “
“This way, beyond the Federal Government Girls’ College, Sagamu, and Federal Government College, Odogbolu, Ogun East can also have a tertiary institution that is owned by the Federal Government, particularly knowing that our foremost educationist, the late Dr. Tai Solarin, and the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, were from that part of Ogun State.”
Giving details of the events that led to the takeover of the university, the governor said he and his team, after thorough searches, picked TASUED and presented the idea to the Federal Government in July last year through the minister of Education, who carried out due diligence before passing the memo to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approval.
He added that the creation was beyond any parochial interest, as the national outlook of the institution would serve the educational needs of not only the citizens of Ogun State, but also Nigeria as a whole.
“I conferred with my team, and we decided to present Tai Solarin University of Education to Mr. President for adoption. The reason is not far-fetched. Besides the fact that it is located in Ogun East, it is also the premier university of education named after one of the foremost educationists in Nigeria,” Abiodun said.
He said the takeover was not accidental, as a lot of work went into it.
“This did not happen by accident; it was intentional, deliberate and purposeful. We asked for it, and Mr. President, in his magnanimity, saw with us, accepted and granted us the approval for this institution to become a federal institution.”
He assured the President and Federal Ministry of Education that they were inheriting a standard and first-class university his administration had continued to nurture and sustain since its inception in 2019.
Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said the takeover of the school would give it more leverage in terms of access to more funds, facilities and manpower.
“The takeover will provide the university with more opportunities to blossom. There will be more developments, and the institution will receive more Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) every year, which means the school will be able to devote more resources to research and other aspects of educational development,’’ he added.
