Tinubu Graduated With First-Class in Accounting, Alausa Insists

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has insisted that President Bola Tinubu graduated with a first-class degree in accounting from Chicago State University, United States, amid renewed scrutiny of the President’s academic qualifications.
Alausa made the assertion during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, saying his long stay in Chicago and personal interactions with some of Tinubu’s former schoolmates informed his position.
The minister, who said he lived in Chicago for nearly 30 years, maintained that he was familiar with the university and had visited the institution several times.
“I’m telling you hardcore facts. I lived in Chicago for almost 30 years. I’ve been to that university so many times,” he said.
When asked whether he had met people who studied with Tinubu, Alausa responded that he had met many of them in person.
Asked specifically whether the President graduated with a first-class degree, the minister replied: “In accounting, of course.”
Alausa also described Tinubu as a genius, dismissing questions about the President’s intellectual capacity.
“Oh, he’s a genius. Let’s not talk about the capability of this President. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is literally a genius,” he said.
The minister further defended the President’s performance in office, arguing that his administration had moved Nigeria from a struggling economy towards growth.
“Look at how he’s transformed a moribund country three years ago to a country that is growing,” Alausa said.
However, when the interviewer raised concerns about poverty and the number of out-of-school children in the country, the minister insisted on focusing the discussion on what he described as the President’s achievements.
“Let me focus on what you’re saying. I don’t want you to derail this conversation. But this President has delivered this for Nigeria,” he added.
Academic credentials under scrutiny
Tinubu’s academic qualifications have remained a subject of public debate, particularly following the controversy surrounding his Chicago State University records during the 2023 presidential election litigation.
The issue resurfaced in August 2026 after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, began displaying the personal particulars and academic credentials submitted by presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to a report by PUNCH, Tinubu’s Form EC9 listed a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, awarded with honours on June 22, 1979.
The document also listed his National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate, indicating that he served in Oyo State between December 1982 and November 1983.
However, the spaces for his primary and secondary school qualifications were reportedly marked “0000”, while his university qualification was listed in the educational history published by INEC.
The entries triggered fresh questions about the President’s educational background, with politicians and commentators expressing differing opinions on the omissions.
Chicago State University had previously confirmed that Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979, with accounting as his major.
In September 2023, the university released his academic records following a legal request by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who sought the documents in connection with his challenge to Tinubu’s election victory.
The university’s registrar, Caleb Westberg, also testified in a United States court that Tinubu attended and graduated from the institution.
However, the university records cited in the report confirm accounting as Tinubu’s major but do not specify that he graduated with a first-class classification.
The claim that the President obtained a first-class degree was made by Alausa during Tuesday’s television interview.
Meanwhile, a BBC fact-check published in October 2023 found no evidence that Tinubu forged the Chicago State University diploma he submitted to INEC.
The distinction between confirmation of Tinubu’s attendance and graduation, and the minister’s specific claim about his degree classification, has therefore remained central to the renewed debate over the President’s academic record.