By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
The Management of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, has condemned in strong terms the attempt to distort facts and stir unnecessary discord over the conferment of awards on exceptional Nigerians during the institution’s 17th convocation ceremony on Thursday.
The Daily Crucible reports that the First Lady received honorary doctorate in Child Education from the University during the convocation ceremony.
Also, Governor Dapo Abiodun and a former governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, were also conferred with honorary doctorate degrees in Education Management and Political Science, respectively.
But the awards appeared to be raising concerns following alleged trending malicious and deliberately misleading publications aimed at stirring disaffections and misinforming the public – ostensibly to incite them into questioning the rational behind the Institution’s conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees, especially on governors.
The alleged malicious and misleading publications also tended to insinuate that the architects of the institution’s transformation from being a College of Education to a full – fledged University of Education in 2005 have not been duly recognised.
However, reacting to the development through a statement on Friday, by Dapo Oke, Registrar and Secretary to Council, the management urged the public to disregard the misinformation and affirm the unwavering commitment of TASFUED to recognising excellence and distinguished service in accordance with its established traditions and institutional prerogative.
“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, in recognition of their Executive stewardship and support for public Education.
This tradition is a matter of verifiable public record.
His Excellency, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the visionary founder of this University, was rightly honoured as the first serving Governor to receive the award in 2010.
His successor, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was similarly honoured
Furthermore, the scope of this honour extends beyond State governance to celebrate exemplary national and global contributions. During the University’s 10th Anniversary in 2015, distinguished figures including former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, CON, were duly honoured. Others are Sir Kensington Adebutu, Asiwaju Adebola Adegunwa,Dr Tunde Lemo among others
In this established context, the recent conferment upon His Excellency, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun, CON, the Executive Governor of Ogun State, is neither anomalous nor extraordinary. It is a continuation of a consistent institutional practice applied to all Civilian Governors of the State.
Regarding Aremo Olusegun Osoba, CFR, his historic and indelible contribution is separately and highly esteemed. His signature, as Governor during the Third Republic, enacted the legislative bill that transformed the former Tai Solarin College of Education into a Degree-awarding institution—a pivotal act in our institutional metamorphosis.
It must also be clarified that this recognition is not exclusive to Governors. The University has, over time, honoured all Paramount Rulers in Ogun State, alongside other preeminent Nigerians whose transformative contributions have significantly advanced national development.
The Management, therefore, condemns in strong terms this attempt to distort facts and stir unnecessary disaffection. We urge the public to disregard this misinformation and affirm our unwavering commitment to recognising excellence and distinguished service in accordance with our established traditions and institutional prerogative,” he stated in parts.
