Education Minister Tunji Alausa has insisted that President Bola Tinubu graduated with a first-class degree in accounting from Chicago State University, describing the President as a “genius” while defending his academic record and performance in office.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, Alausa said he was familiar with the institution after living in Chicago for almost 30 years and had visited the campus many times. He claimed to have met numerous people who studied with Tinubu. When asked whether the President graduated with a first-class degree, the minister replied: “In accounting, of course.”
Alausa dismissed questions about Tinubu’s intellectual capacity, stating: “Oh, he’s a genius. Let’s not talk about the capability of this President. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is literally a genius.” He further argued that the President had transformed a “moribund country” into one that is growing, though he declined to engage further when challenged on issues such as out-of-school children and poverty levels.
The remarks come against the backdrop of renewed public scrutiny of Tinubu’s educational qualifications. The Independent National Electoral Commission began displaying the personal particulars and academic credentials of presidential candidates for the 2027 elections in August 2026. Tinubu’s Form EC9 lists a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, awarded with honours on 22 June 1979. Sections for primary and secondary school qualifications were marked “0000”.
Chicago State University has repeatedly confirmed that Tinubu attended the institution from August 1977 to June 1979 and was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Honours on 22 June 1979, with accounting as his major. University registrar statements and records released in 2023 following a United States court order obtained by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar affirm the attendance, major and the “with Honours” designation.
However, the released university records do not specify a “first-class” classification. American universities typically use grade-point averages and honours distinctions rather than the British-style first-class, second-class upper or lower system. Alausa’s description of a first-class degree therefore goes beyond the language contained in the official records made public to date.
The credentials controversy first intensified during the 2023 presidential election petition. Atiku’s legal team secured the release of academic documents through a US federal court. A BBC fact-check subsequently found no evidence that the diploma Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission was forged. Both the Presidential Election Petition Court and the Supreme Court dismissed challenges based on the certificate claims.
Alausa’s intervention adds a new layer to a long-running debate that continues to attract political attention as the 2027 polls approach. While the university has consistently verified Tinubu’s graduation and accounting major, the precise classification of the degree remains a point of difference between the minister’s public assertion and the documented institutional record.