The Federal Government has officially adopted the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State, as a Federal University.

President Bola Tinubu approved the transition on Friday, acknowledging TASUED as a valuable educational asset. The Ogun State Government had invited the Federal Government to take over the institution, which was previously state-owned.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Presidency described the move as a tribute to the legacies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Tai Solarin, both renowned educationists from the region.

“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 dedicated his life to educating children and instilling patriotic and leadership values at Mayflower School in Ikenne,” President Tinubu was quoted as saying.

He also acknowledged the role of the Awujale of Ijebuland in preventing the university’s closure in 2012, just seven years after its establishment.

The transition of TASUED into a Federal University of Education aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening teacher education and improving instructional quality at all levels. The institution, already equipped with strong infrastructure and academic programmes, will require minimal federal investment for the transition.

Established in 2005 by the Ogun State Government, TASUED is Nigeria’s first specialised university of education. With its federal status, it becomes the first federally owned tertiary institution in the Ogun East senatorial district.

TASUED now joins Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Owerri and Adeyemi Federal University of Education in Ondo as one of Nigeria’s three universities dedicated to teacher education.