Prince Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has announced that the Federal Government has chosen to convert Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) into a federal institution in order to ensure equitable distribution of federal universities in Ogun State.

During an interview with reporters in Abeokuta, Prince Abiodun stated that the decision was intended not just to achieve balance in the distribution of federal educational institutions in the state, but also to attract more financing and establish it as a model hub 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.”

The governor and his team chose TASUED after thorough research and presented the idea to the Federal Government in July last year. The Minister of Education conducted due diligence before passing the memo to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approval. The governor emphasised that the institution’s national outlook would serve the educational needs of the nation.

“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 told the President and the Federal Ministry of Education that they would inherit a high-quality university that his administration had nurtured and sustained since its creation in 2019.

Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, stated that the school’s takeover will provide it with more influence in terms of funding, infrastructure, and staff.

“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. {The Nation}