President Bola Tinubu’s educational background has come under renewed scrutiny after a former Chicago State University lecturer, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, questioned the President’s claim of attending the American institution.
Pearse, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, made the allegations during an interview on News Central Television’s Breakfast Central programme on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
He accused Tinubu of misrepresenting his educational history and challenged Education Minister Tunji Alausa’s recent defence of the President’s academic qualifications.
Pearse maintained that Tinubu never attended Chicago State University, claiming that he had personal knowledge of the academic programme the President said he completed.
However, his allegations contradict the university’s previously published official confirmation that Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979.
Ex-Lecturer Questions Tinubu’s Academic Records
During the television interview, Pearse said he worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990 and claimed he was the director of the programme Tinubu reportedly attended.
Watch the video: Dr Adetokunbo Pearse speaks on Tinubu’s Chicago State University records
He insisted that his knowledge of the institution’s academic structure informed his position that the President never studied there.
When reminded that the Education Minister had confirmed Tinubu’s attendance, Pearse dismissed the minister’s explanation, accusing him of defending the President rather than providing an independent account.
The PDP chieftain also questioned the educational institutions Tinubu listed in documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He alleged that some of the schools named in the President’s educational history did not match their historical records.
Pearse further recalled that people connected to the late Lagos politician Funsho Williams approached him around 1999 seeking information about Tinubu’s academic background.
He claimed that he provided them with information at the time but advised them to focus their political campaign on Tinubu’s performance rather than his educational qualifications.
However, Pearse did not present new documentary evidence during the television interview to independently establish his latest allegations.
What Chicago State University Previously Confirmed
Chicago State University has previously confirmed that Tinubu attended the institution between August 1977 and June 1979.
In a statement published on October 4, 2023, the university said Tinubu graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
The institution also explained that it had provided relevant academic records following a United States federal court order connected to a legal dispute involving former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
During the proceedings, CSU Registrar Caleb Westberg testified under oath about Tinubu’s attendance and graduation.
The university maintained that its records confirmed his completion of the degree requirements.
The confirmation is also consistent with an earlier letter dated August 20, 1999, signed by the university’s then registrar, Lois Davis.
The letter stated that Tinubu attended the institution from 1977 to 1979 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with Accounting as his major.
Timeline Raises Questions About Lecturer’s Claim
One important detail in Pearse’s latest account concerns the period he said he worked at Chicago State University.
According to his interview, his teaching period was between 1985 and 1990.
However, Chicago State University’s records place Tinubu’s attendance between 1977 and 1979, several years before Pearse’s stated period at the institution.
The difference in dates does not independently establish whether Pearse had access to historical programme records or other relevant information.
However, it raises questions about the basis of his claim that he directed the programme Tinubu reportedly attended.
The distinction is important because a lecturer’s employment at a university does not automatically establish personal knowledge of every student’s earlier academic records.
Education Minister Defends Tinubu’s Qualifications
Education Minister Tunji Alausa has also defended the President’s educational background amid renewed political criticism.
Alausa maintained that Tinubu attended Chicago State University and obtained his degree.
His position is consistent with the university’s published confirmation of the President’s attendance and graduation.
However, Pearse rejected the minister’s explanation during the News Central interview, arguing that the minister was acting in the President’s interest.
The disagreement has revived discussions about the educational documents Tinubu submitted to INEC and the controversies surrounding his academic records.
Why the Controversy Has Returned Ahead of 2027
The renewed allegations come as political parties and opposition figures intensify their preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu’s educational background attracted significant attention during the 2023 presidential election, particularly following legal proceedings in the United States over the release of his university records.
Although the university confirmed his attendance and graduation, questions surrounding aspects of the documents submitted to INEC continued to generate political debate.
Pearse’s latest comments have introduced another challenge to the President’s educational history.
However, the central allegation that Tinubu never attended Chicago State University remains contradicted by the institution’s official confirmation and its registrar’s testimony.
Any further claims about discrepancies in his educational records require documentary evidence and independent verification.
The Presidency and the relevant educational authorities should also be given an opportunity to respond to the specific allegations raised during the interview.
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