The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu graduated with a first-class degree in accounting from Chicago State University in the United States.
Alausa made the assertion during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday while responding to questions about the President’s academic qualifications.
The minister said he was familiar with the university, having lived in Chicago for nearly 30 years, and claimed to have personally met several people who studied alongside Tinubu.
“I’m telling you hardcore facts. I lived in Chicago for almost 30 years. I’ve been to that university so many times,” he said.
When asked whether he had met Tinubu’s classmates, Alausa responded that he had met many of them in person.
Asked specifically whether the President graduated with a first-class degree, the minister replied, “In accounting, of course.”
He also described Tinubu as a genius, dismissing questions about the President’s intellectual capacity and praising his leadership.
Alausa further defended the administration’s performance, claiming that Tinubu had transformed Nigeria from a moribund country into a growing economy.
“Look at how he’s transformed a moribund country three years ago to a country that is growing,” he said.
However, when the interviewer raised concerns about Nigeria’s out-of-school children and poverty levels, the minister insisted on focusing the discussion on what he considered the President’s achievements.
Tinubu’s academic qualifications have remained a subject of public debate, particularly following the controversy surrounding his Chicago State University records during the 2023 presidential election petition.
The issue resurfaced in August 2026 after the Independent National Electoral Commission began displaying the personal particulars and academic credentials submitted by presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Alausa’s latest remarks have added another dimension to the ongoing public discussion about the President’s educational background and academic credentials.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.