Social media debates this week suggested that Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, deliberately ignored its founder and former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in the recent award of honorary doctorate degrees. The claims quickly gained traction, especially amid existing political tensions in the state.
But the university says the narrative being circulated online does not reflect the facts.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Dapo Oke, described the reports as “malicious, misleading and deliberately crafted to sow discord.”
According to TASUED, the university operates a clear and long-standing tradition when it comes to honorary doctorate awards.
“For the avoidance of doubt, and to set the record unequivocally straight, the university affirms that its longstanding tradition has been to confer an Honorary Doctorate Degree on civilian Governors of Ogun State,” the statement said.
The institution stressed that this tradition is not new and that Gbenga Daniel himself was honoured in 2010, making him the first serving Ogun State governor to receive an honorary doctorate from the university.
“His successor, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was similarly honoured,” the statement added.
In essence, the university said Daniel was not overlooked — he had already been recognised years earlier.
TASUED also explained that its honorary awards go beyond state governors to include Nigerians with notable national and global contributions.
It recalled that during its 10th anniversary in 2015, the university honoured former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, and other prominent figures such as Sir Kensington Adebutu, Asiwaju Adebola Adegunwa, and Dr Tunde Lemo.
Against this backdrop, the university said the recent conferment of an honorary doctorate on Governor Dapo Abiodun followed an established pattern rather than any special preference.
“The recent conferment upon His Excellency, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun, CON, is neither anomalous nor extraordinary. It is a continuation of a consistent institutional practice,” the statement said.
On former governor Olusegun Osoba, TASUED highlighted a specific reason for his recognition. The university noted that Osoba’s administration enacted the law that transformed the former Tai Solarin College of Education into a degree-awarding institution — a major turning point in its history.
The management further clarified that honorary doctorate awards are not limited to politicians. Paramount rulers in Ogun State and other distinguished Nigerians have also been honoured over time.
Condemning what it described as deliberate attempts to distort facts, the university urged the public to disregard the misinformation.
“We affirm our unwavering commitment to recognising excellence and distinguished service in accordance with our established traditions and institutional prerogative,” the statement said.
The clarification comes amid speculation linking the controversy to political disagreements between the Ogun State Government and Gbenga Daniel, despite all parties belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Earlier, PUNCH Online reported that TASUED planned to confer honorary doctorate degrees on First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Dapo Abiodun, and Chief Olusegun Osoba during its 17th convocation ceremony, scheduled for January 23 to 29, 2026.
According to the university, Senator Tinubu will receive a Doctor of Science (D.Sc. Ed.) Honoris Causa in Childhood Education, Governor Abiodun a D.Sc. Ed. in Education Management, while Osoba will be awarded a D.Sc. Ed. in Political Science.
For students and young Nigerians watching the conversation unfold, the episode is a reminder that not every trending claim tells the full story — and that institutional history often provides the context social media leaves out.
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