Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic background, urging Nigerians to disregard criticism from opposition figures over the President’s educational credentials.
Alausa made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he said he had visited Chicago State University (CSU) several times and personally met people he described as Tinubu’s former classmates.
“I know the university — Chicago State University. Forget the nonsense the opposition is peddling. I’m telling you hardcore facts,” the minister said.
He added that the university had hosted the President and maintained that Tinubu graduated with a first-class degree in Accounting.
‘I Have Met Many of His Classmates’
Asked whether he had met people who studied alongside Tinubu at Chicago State University, Alausa responded that he had met several of them in person.
The minister also described the President as a genius, praising his academic background and leadership qualities.
“He is a genius. Let’s not talk about the capability of this President alone. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is literally a genius,” he said.
Alausa further credited Tinubu’s administration with changing Nigeria’s economic direction, arguing that the country was growing compared with its condition three years earlier.
What Chicago State University Has Confirmed
Tinubu’s academic qualifications have remained a subject of public debate. Chicago State University confirmed in 2023 that he attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree.
The university’s earlier records also identified Accounting as his major. However, its public confirmation did not specify that he graduated with a first-class classification. The first-class description was made by Alausa during the television interview.
The minister’s comments have therefore brought renewed attention to the President’s academic record and the wider debate surrounding his qualifications.
Source: Channels Television interview; Chicago State University statement; reporting by The PUNCH.
