Chicago State University said Tinubu attended the university and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree”
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Chicago State University (CSU) has finally reacted to the controversy surrounding the academic qualification of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the tertiary institution, the Nigerian president attended their university and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1979.
CSU made the disclosure on Thursday
in a statement issued to one of America’s biggest news network, CBS Broadcasting Inc. better known as CBS News.
The institution, however, claimed it could not provide further information about Tinubu’s record because United States’ federal law restrains it from providing such without his consent or a court order.
Recall that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, had alleged that documents revealing that Tinubu graduated from Chicago State in 1979, were not original, and highlighted it as grounds to nullify his election.
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But the Presidential Election Petition Court threw out Atiku’s claim against Tinubu’s February 25 election victory while giving its verdict.
Despite losing at the tribunal, Atiku has continued to fight the president’s academic results in a Chicago court.
Reacting to the development via the statement issued to CBS recently, Chicago State University stated: “As an educational institution, we are sometimes asked to provide information related to student records.
“Federal law known as FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.
“In August 2023, a request was made to the U.S. federal court for the university to provide information related to educational records concerning Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, and a former CSU student.
“The university has confirmed Tinubu attended CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree. Federal law, however, prevents us from providing any further information without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.
“CSU is confident in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate. The university is not a party to the Nigerian legal proceedings that spurred this request, and a U.S. federal judge will determine whether the university will provide further requested information.
“Our response to the request for Tinubu’s academic records has been entirely consistent with our practices, policies and federal law. We would respond in exactly the same manner for any request for any student information by a third party.”