In 2022, Bola Tinubu shocked many when he told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that he never attended primary or secondary school, and that his university certificates were stolen by unknown soldiers during Nigeria’s military era.
The revelation came as he filed documents to prove his eligibility for the 2023 presidential election, offering a rare glimpse into the personal losses and upheavals he endured amid political turmoil.
According to him, the sections for his early education were left blank in his affidavit, but he insisted he had earned degrees from American universities.
He recounted how his house was looted and all his educational documents taken during the military takeover in the 1990s.
Repeated searches by security agencies after the November 1993 coup compounded the loss, leaving him without proof of his qualifications.
Observers quickly noted that Tinubu’s 2022 disclosure appeared inconsistent with earlier affidavits submitted during his 1999 and 2003 gubernatorial campaigns.
In those previous filings, he listed St. Paul Children’s Home School in Ibadan and Government College, Ibadan, before proceeding to Richard Daley College in Chicago.
The discrepancies reignited debates about the accuracy of his educational history.
Political activists and commentators reacted sharply to the claims. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a civil society activist, argued that the contradictions in Tinubu’s statements could be legally challenged, raising questions about the veracity of his educational background and, potentially, his eligibility to contest for public office.
