Chicago State University Confirms Tinubu Attended The Institution, Graduated In 1979

Chicago State University (CSU) has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu attended the university and successfully graduated in 1979, obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

The CSU issued a statement to CBS Broadcasting Inc. (CBS News) on Thursday, September 14, confirming Tinubu’s academic history.

However, the institution also stated that U.S. federal law, specifically the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), restricts them from disclosing further details about Tinubu’s records without his consent or unless authorized by a court order.

“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.

[irp]

“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,” the statement read

This confirmation comes amid allegations by Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who questioned the claims of Tinubu’s graduation from Chicago State in 1979 and used it as grounds to challenge his election victory.

[irp]