Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun is set to receive an honorary doctorate from TASUED, but the award has revived public debate over his educational history and past credential controversies
As Dapo Abiodun Receives Honorary Doctorate, Questions Resurface Over His Academic History
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, is scheduled to receive a Doctor of Science (D.Sc., Honoris Causa) in Education Management from the Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASUED) today, January 29, 2026, during the institution’s 17th convocation ceremony.
The governor will be honoured alongside Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, all recognised by the university for what it described as their “outstanding contributions to society.”
According to information published on TASUED’s official website, Abiodun was selected as an “exceptional individual” whose actions have made significant impact both in governance and in the broader society. The institution further stated that its history “will not be completed without mentioning the fact that his administration kick-started the process that initiated the transition of the University into a federal institution; the transformation that will bring long-term significance to education in Ogun State.”
On this basis, the governor is to be conferred with an honorary doctorate in Education Management.
Despite the celebratory tone surrounding the award, the announcement has triggered renewed debate among residents, education stakeholders, and policy observers in Ogun State, many of whom are questioning the depth and visibility of the Abiodun administration’s impact on the education sector since he assumed office in 2019.
Critics argue that the eventual federal takeover of TASUED was less the outcome of sustained state-driven reform and more a response to funding pressures faced by the institution. This view mirrors earlier claims by former governor and current Ogun East Senator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, who had publicly accused the Abiodun administration of neglecting tertiary education.
In an open letter issued during his tenure as senator, Daniel alleged that inadequate state funding forced the Federal Government’s intervention, insisting that the takeover amounted to a rescue operation rather than a reward for educational investment.
On March 17, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, formally pronounced TASUED a Federal Government-owned institution, effectively removing it from the financial responsibility of the Ogun State Government.
Beyond policy considerations, the honorary award has also revived long-standing public interest in Governor Abiodun’s academic background, with some observers questioning whether controversies surrounding his educational records align with the moral expectations often associated with honorary academic distinctions.
Publicly available profiles indicate that Abiodun attended Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti (1972), St. Joseph’s College, Ondo (1977), and Ondo High School (1978). He is reported to have studied Civil Engineering at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and later obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting from Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, Georgia, in 1986.
However, ahead of the 2019 governorship election, investigative reports by TheCable drew attention to discrepancies in documents submitted by Abiodun during his 2015 Senate bid, his governorship nomination, and biographical information published on his company’s website. The inconsistencies fuelled questions over whether he fulfilled the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) requirement, leading to legal challenges against his eligibility.
Abiodun consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he never claimed to have completed a degree at Obafemi Awolowo University and describing the allegations as politically motivated. Although the issues featured prominently during post-election tribunal proceedings, the tribunal ultimately upheld his election, ruling that the petitioners failed to establish certificate fraud.
While the legal questions surrounding Abiodun’s credentials were judicially settled, the renewed public scrutiny suggests that honorary academic recognitions—especially in the education sector—often invite broader reflection on leadership records, public perception, and historical controversies.
As TASUED proceeds with today’s convocation, the honorary doctorate stands both as an institutional commendation and a reminder that, in public life, official honours do not always silence enduring questions. Read More
