The Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Prof Oluwole Banjo, on Tuesday described the attempt by the immediate-past governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, to scrap the university around 2012.
Speaking during a press briefing held at the Academic Building of the university, to mark its 20th anniversary, Prof Banjo said it was the darkest moment in the history of the institution.
He said at the time, the fate of everyone connected to the university, both the students and the staff, was hanging in the air, bringing so much anxiety and so the only option was to look unto God for intervention with fasting and prayers.
“I want to say that the time the move was made to scrap the university was our darkest moment, we have never seen anything as terrible as that since then.
“We fasted and prayed and today, we are glad that it is now in the past and the university has continued to flourish,” he said.
When asked about the mood of the university community over the plans by ex-Governor Amosun to scrap the barely seven-year-old institution at the time, Prof Banjo said “I want to tell you that nobody would see his growing child being attacked by a wolf and be happy.
“The father looking at that scenario would be very sad and that was exactly what happened when they wanted to scrap the university.
“We all know that this is the first of its kind in the country and the eighth in the world. We wonder how someone can just wake up and decide to kill the vision that many people are looking up to.
“However, with the help of many well-meaning people in society, with fasting and prayers, we were able to overcome that and that is why we are happy to celebrate what God has given us.”
Banjo said that 20 years ago, precisely on January 29, 2005, the former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel, proclaimed the transition of the erstwhile Tai Solarin College of Education to Tai Solarin University of Education.
The VC added that the National Universities Commission, on November 28 of the same year, approved its establishment as the 76th university and the first specialised education university.
He said that 20 years down the line, the university has become a force to reckon with globally, churning out over 50,000 graduates and making significant impacts in the human capital development of the teaching profession in Nigeria and across the globe.
Banjo disclosed further that one of the success stories of the university is Mr Kayode Adewale, a graduate of the institution and a Mathematics teacher who recently earned a place among the 50 shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize.
The vice-chancellor revealed that Adewale, who would be finishing his PhD programme at the university shortly, had been offered a lecturing appointment as a reward for his dedication and for taking the name of the university to the global stage.
He described TASUED as the only university where its students on graduation were awarded two certificates, one for their course of study and the other for any vocational training of their choice, which they must have learnt and passed before graduation.
Banjo listed other achievements of the university as the establishment of the first independent power plant among public universities in the South-West, the graduation of its first set of 68 PhD holders about two months ago, and rapid infrastructural development, among others.
Prof Banjo said though the university might have come a long way, the journey was not yet over.
He said the ivory tower must continue to strive for excellence, push for the boundaries of knowledge, and remain at the forefront of educational innovation.
The VC appreciated the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, for their support over the years.
He also lauded several philanthropists such as Chief Adebutu Kesington, Alhaji Sulaiman Adegunwa, Chief Alex Onabanjo, and Chief Dotun Sanusi, as well as the alumni, the staff and students of the university for their support and commitment to the continued growth of the university.
The National President of TASUED alumni, Mr Bolaji Oladeji, hailed the university for living up to its dream of producing excellent manpower and helping to solve societal challenges.
Oladeji, while congratulating the university for the milestone and its incredible rise to the global stage within 20 years, said the alumni would always do all within their ability to keep supporting the continuous growth and rapid development of the university.
