The establishment of institutions is a product of many factors which include significantly the prevailing socio-political circumstances at the time of their birth. The story of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun via Ijebu Ode is not particularly different from this basic assumption. It is the story of an institution founded at the beginning of the new millennium to enhance strategic human capital development of the State in the diverse, fast-changing, global and technologically competitive dynamics of the teaching profession.
Welcome to Tai Solarin University of Education, the Nation’s Premier University of Education and the preferred University of Education of the 21st Century. TASUED was proclaimed by the Ogun State Government on the 29th of January, 2005, and approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the 28th of November, 2005, as the 76th and the first specialised University of Education in Nigeria. We are 2nd in Africa and 8th in the World, hence our adoption of the formula 1-2-8.
TASUED is proudly the flagship of the University of Education in Nigeria and a unique tertiary institution teaching both the curriculum subject contents and the pedagogy for the effective transfer of knowledge. The University is located on a large expanse of land along the Sagamu–Ore-Benin expressway in Ijagun, Imaweje and Ijele Communities on a beautiful landscape where the main campus is situated in a serene academic environment. It is important to note that TASUED is a transformation of the then Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE) that was formerly Ogun State College of Education established in 1978, the first tertiary Institution to be established by the Ogun State Government after its creation in 1976. The old College of Education offered an opportunity for the immediate take-off of the University given the huge financial responsibilities of acquiring a new site and establishing a new campus somewhere else.
It has as its vision “to be the Preferred University of Education which will excel in preparing educators who will be leaders in all spheres of the discipline”, while the mission is “to enhance the quality of teaching and learning and continuously update the method and skills of knowledge providers by equipping them with modern technology and services delivered by skilled and motivated members of staff to meet the contemporary and future needs of Nigeria with the capability to compete globally”.
The University, in its 19 years of existence, has been administered by five different Vice Chancellors with various physical and personnel developmental thrusts. The Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olukayode Oyekanmi Oyesiku, a Professional Urban and Regional Planner, who set the pace for the astronomical physical development of the University. He was the Vice-Chancellor between 1st April 2005 – 31st March 2010: followed by Prof. Olusegun Victor Awonusi; the second Vice-Chancellor who held the office from 1st April 2010 – 8th January, 2013 and then the 1st Female and 3rd Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Oluyemisi Oluremi Obilade from 9th January 2013 – 8th January 2018. Prof. Abayomi Adelaja Arigbabu; the 4th and the 1st Indigenous Vice Chancellor held the office from the 19th March 2018 – 1st November 2020. They have in different ways lifted the University to greater heights. The current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Sikiru Banjo assumed duty on 2nd November, 2020 as the 2nd indigenous and 5th Vice-Chancellor of the University poised to lead TASUED up critical steps towards the attainment of its vision.
Physical projects are part of the history of the University itself. Apart from the inherited physical structures from the old College of Education, numerous individuals and philanthropists have, at various times, donated one structure or the other, thereby contributing to the overall architecture of the institution. The University embarked on these giant strides through the establishment of the University Trust Foundations Pioneered by the late renowned Economist and former Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the Asiwaju of Ijebuland, Prof. Adebayo Adedeji, who commissioned the University Foundations Building on Thursday, 25th February, 2010, having laid the foundation in July, 2004.
Other corporate organisations and philanthropists followed suit. These include:
- The Petroleum and Petrochemical Science Complex built and donated by Otunba (Dr) Alex Onabanjo, which houses an ultra-modern auditorium as well as staff offices and lecture rooms commissioned on the 14th of March, 2008.
- Vocational Laboratory Building donated by the Keshington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundations (KAAF), housing the Technical Workshop and Laboratories, commissioned on 1st November, 2008.
As a way of giving back to the University which has been their client for years, some financial institutions also keyed into the vision of the institution by donating one project or the other, e.g.
- Business Village built and donated by Skye Bank Plc. was commissioned on Thursday, 25th February, 2010.
- To ameliorate accommodation challenges faced by our students, a female hostel was built and donated by the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc. and was commissioned on Thursday, 25th February, 2010.
- Zenith Bank Recreation Park which provides aesthetic delight and serves as relaxation centre for both staff and students was donated by Zenith Bank Plc. and commissioned on 28th November, 2009.
- Kayode Oyesiku Tennis Court built and donated by Prof. Kayode Oyesiku was also commissioned on the 25th of February, 2010.
- A Borehole at Petroleum and Petrochemical Science complex was donated by a Legal Luminary, Otunba Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN) in 2008.
- On 4th April, 2007, the renowned business mogul, industrialist and Philanthropist, Alhaji (Chief) Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, transferred the old Sulaiman Adegunwa College of Education, some new structures and a very large expanse of land in Ososa campus to the University. The Ososa campus is presently accommodating the Centre for Part-time and External Programmes, Diploma and Pre-degree Programmes, College of Vocational and Technical Education (COVTED) and Distance Learning Institute (DLI).
The Ososa Campus of the University seats on a land mass of about 15 Hectares and has three auditoriums, blocks of offices and classrooms, sports arena, campus library, sick bay etc.
To galvanize support for the University and serve as an engine room of progress for educational development, the then Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Olufemi Adebisi Bamiro in 2018 instituted another TASUED Foundations headed by the former Deputy Governor of Central Bank, Rev. Tunde Lemo OFR with other notable eminent Nigerians as members to drive the developmental initiatives of the University.
The pivotal instinct of having the first University of Education in Nigeria in TASUED is predicated on the need to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in our school system for the enhancement of human capacity. There was also the compelling need to set up a Centre of Excellence in Education which will serve as referral to existing Faculties of Education in Nigerian Universities and across the African continent in the field of Pedagogy, Andragogy and Technology Education. We make bold to affirm that the University has, within the short time of its existence, been serving as a melting-pot for the formulation of educational policies and as a resource centre for the Colleges/Institutes of Education across the Nation.
TASUED has also globally produced high-level professional teachers in high quantities, who are well grounded in the mastery of curriculum contents and the methodology skills for the right impartation of knowledge.
Presently, the University has developed from its traditional four Colleges to six, thus making TASUED the first University in Nigeria to a full-fledged College dedicated to Vocational and Technology Education Programme, while it’s Technical Education Department has become a blessing to the University in its revenue generation drive. The University recently got approval from the National Universities Commission to expand our educational scope to offer B.A, B.Sc, M.A, M.Sc, and PhD in addition to our B.A (Ed), B.Sc (Ed) and M.Ed as part of our academic programme thus bringing it to 59 academic programmes in TASUED.
We have successfully restructured two (2) Departments in the College of Specialised and Professional Education. The Department of Educational Foundation and Instructional Technology has been reinstituted into Department of Childhood Education and Department of Educational Technology. In the same vein, the Department of Counselling Psychology has been reinstituted into the Department of Counselling and Educational Foundation.
The University has seven teaching, research and service Centres:
- The Information and Communication Technology Centre is one of the most efficient and effective Centres that has transformed the University into an e-University, making possible e-services for effective teaching, research and administration.
- The Oluyemisi Obilade Centre for Vocational and Entrepreneurship Studies is, delightfully, a functional and serviceable Vocational and Entrepreneurial Centre equipping our students for brighter future opportunities as self-dependent employers of labour.
- TASUED Consultancy formerly known as the Human Resource Development Centre (TAHUREC) for training and development schemes.
- Centre for External and Preliminary Studies (CEPPS) serves as coordinating centre for the various units of the University for Quality teaching of Part–Time and External Programmes of the University.
- Centre for Human Rights and Gender Education (CHURGE), whose main objective is to join the league of agencies and organizations working in concert with the United Nations in envisioning a world where human rights as well as gender equality is legally protected, revered and obeyed.
- Institute of Vocational Training And Research In Agriculture (IVOTRA) was conceived in the spirit of Ogun state Government’s agenda for increased food production in a renewed commitment to the actualization of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and Federal Government’s policy on food security.
- The Distance Learning Institute has a vision of providing lifelong education to Nigerian citizens, who for a variety of genuine reasons have opted for the Distance Learning mode.
- Directorate of Research and External Relations (DRER) with a clear mandate to improve quality of research for academic upliftment and to widen the pathway of collaboration with sister Universities across the globe.
- Centre for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning (CITEL) rendering quality orientation and in-service training for workers in public and private sectors, particularly on emerging trends and capacity building in teaching and other professions.
- Directorate of Counselling and Human Development
The University has 890 workforce with a student population of 19,831 and its ever growing alumni spread across the nooks and crannies of labour markets across the federation and beyond who had been making the University proud in their successful exploits and meaningful contributions to nation building. The small but beautiful campus is reputed for keeping her environment green and walkways clean in a serene academic environment bequeathed it by nature and the benevolence and friendliness of the hosting communities.
TASUED, the young, dynamic and unique institution, the dream of a better tomorrow is working hard to achieve its vision and mission towards global excellence and significant mileage towards our desired goals.
