President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic qualifications have come under renewed scrutiny following fresh allegations by Adetokunbo Pearse, a former lecturer at Chicago State University (CSU), who insists that the Nigerian leader never attended the American institution.
Pearse made the allegations during an appearance on News Central Television, where he also accused the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, of misleading Nigerians over the President’s educational background.
The controversy follows Alausa’s recent defence of Tinubu’s academic credentials. The minister maintained that the President attended Chicago State University and graduated with first-class honours in Accounting.
Speaking during the interview, Pearse said he worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990 and served as director of the programme Tinubu allegedly attended. He argued that his experience at the institution gave him sufficient knowledge of its academic records.
“I used to be a lecturer at Chicago State University. For five years. I was the director of the programme that Tinubu said he attended at Chicago State University. I was at Chicago State University from 1985 to 1990,” he said.
Pearse also recalled that questions about Tinubu’s educational background emerged as far back as 1999, claiming that people seeking information about the President’s academic history were referred to him.
“When Funsho Williams was looking for information on Tinubu’s record in 1999, it was to me they sent people to come and get the information. I had the information,” he stated.
He further challenged the educational history Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the President listed institutions he never attended.
Dismissing the minister’s explanation that Tinubu was homeschooled, Pearse argued that the claim contradicted the educational history contained in the President’s INEC submissions.
“That was not what Tinubu himself said. Look at the record he submitted to INEC. He never said he was homeschooled. He gave names of schools he never attended. This man is a professional crook,” he alleged.
Pearse also questioned the basis of describing Tinubu as a genius, suggesting that his political successes were unrelated to academic ability.
“If he is a genius, he is a genius at rigging elections,” he said.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa had earlier dismissed criticisms of the President’s educational qualifications, insisting that Tinubu attended Chicago State University and graduated with first-class honours in Accounting.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on November 3, Alausa said he had lived in Chicago for almost 30 years, visited the university several times and personally met people who studied alongside Tinubu.
The minister also described the President as a genius, urging Nigerians to disregard criticisms of his academic background.
However, Pearse rejected the minister’s defence, questioning his reliance on personal familiarity with Chicago State University rather than documentary evidence.
The Presidency had not issued a response to Pearse’s latest allegations at the time of this report.
What Chicago State University’s Records Actually Say
Despite Pearse’s assertions, Chicago State University has previously issued an official confirmation that Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979.
In a statement updated on October 4, 2023, the university confirmed that Tinubu attended CSU and obtained a bachelor’s degree.
Records released during legal proceedings in the United States showed that Tinubu attended the institution between August 1977 and June 1979.
A confirmation letter from the university’s registrar identified his qualification as a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with Accounting as his major.
The university’s records therefore contradict Pearse’s categorical assertion that Tinubu never attended Chicago State University.
However, a separate controversy concerns the authenticity and origin of the particular diploma Tinubu submitted to INEC.
During proceedings initiated by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the United States, CSU Registrar Caleb Westberg gave sworn testimony in October 2023 concerning Tinubu’s admission records, academic transcript and diploma.
Westberg confirmed that the university’s records showed Tinubu graduated in June 1979. However, he acknowledged that CSU could not authenticate the particular diploma submitted to INEC because the institution did not have that document in its possession.
He also testified that the university had no record of issuing that particular diploma in 1979.
According to the evidence presented, the replacement diploma associated with Tinubu was dated June 27, 1997. The university also produced samples of diplomas issued to other students to demonstrate the institution’s certificate format.
Furthermore, the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, in its September 30, 2023 decision, made clear that it was not determining the merits of Atiku’s allegations concerning Tinubu’s graduation or the validity of the Nigerian presidential election.
Those substantive questions were left for the appropriate Nigerian courts to determine under Nigerian law.
A Timeline That Raises Questions About Pearse’s Claims
Another detail in Pearse’s interview warrants scrutiny.
He said he worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990, whereas the institution’s records place Tinubu’s attendance between 1977 and 1979.
The two periods did not overlap, meaning Pearse was not at the university during Tinubu’s recorded period of study.
Although Pearse claims he subsequently obtained information about Tinubu’s academic history, the nature of his access to the relevant records and the basis of his conclusions require independent verification.
His allegations should therefore be distinguished from the documentary evidence already released by Chicago State University.
Political Implications Ahead of 2027
The renewed controversy comes as political activities gradually intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
During the interview, Pearse also linked the debate over Tinubu’s academic qualifications to dissatisfaction with the administration, citing economic hardship, unemployment, poverty and insecurity.
He warned that the controversy could attract further international attention, even stating that an international court could send the president and INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to jail.