17th Convocation of TASUED

By: Our Reporter

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, bags Doctorate Degree of Science in Childhood Education at the 17th Convocation of TAI SOLARIN University of Education Ogun State.

Donates ₦50m to Best Female Graduating Student’s Endowment Fund

TAI SOLARIN University of Education (TASUED) in Ijagun, Ogun State is Nigeria’s first specialised University of Education established on 29th January 2005. It was later converted to a federal university offering 4year and 5‑year degree programmes along with postgraduate studies and part‑time options.
The Institution operates a collegiate system with seven colleges and is recognised as a Premier large‑scale teacher‑training institution.

Marking its 17th convocation 21 years after its establishment, the institution graduated Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty‑Five (4,785) students of whom forty (40) obtained First Class degrees. Honorary degrees were also conferred on notable personalities including the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, who was conferred with Doctor of Science (D.Sc.Ed) Honoris Causa in Childhood Education for her unwavering commitment to educational reforms.

The Governor of Ogun State Prince Dapo Abiodun CON, was conferred with Doctor of Science in Education (Education Management), and Aremo Olusegun Osooba Former Governor of Ogun State was conferred with Doctor of Science in Education (Political Science).

In an Acceptance Speech, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, expressed appreciation to the Senate and Governing Council of the institution for finding her worthy of such recognition. She was represented by the Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Hajiya Nana Shettima, who said that, being a lifelong teacher, this honour holds special meaning as it comes from a university dedicated to the Education and Development of teachers.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu reiterated that education remains the foundation of individual empowerment and national transformation affirming her commitment to promoting access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the First Lady said education remains an essential pillar of national development and on its part the Renewed Hope Initiative will continue to support causes that promote education, health and the wellbeing of women.

As a mark of commitment to supporting education and encouraging young women to excel in their studies, the First Lady donated the sum of Fifty Million Naira (₦50,000,000) to an Endowment Fund for the overall Best Graduating Female Student of the institution to be sustained in the years ahead.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun in his remarks, congratulated the graduands and the management of TASUED for sustaining excellence in teacher education. He applauded the university’s transition and growth noting its crucial role in producing well‑trained teachers who drive national development. The Governor reiterated his administration’s readiness to collaborate with federal and institutional partners to strengthen education infrastructure, support research and create opportunities for graduate employment and professional development.

Governor Abiodun urged the graduands to remain committed to lifelong learning and public service. He pledged continued state support for initiatives that enhance teacher training, improve learning outcomes and expand access to quality education across Ogun State.

Acting Vice‑Chancellor of TAI SOLARIN University of Education, Professor Adekunle Adeogun described the convocation as a celebration of transformation standing on the threshold of history as the institution marks its first convocation under its new identity as a federal university. The VC enumerated the achievements of the institution and progress made in Teacher Education.

The Representative of the First Lady, Hajiya Nana Shettima, presented awards to the best graduating students across faculties.

17th Convocation of TASUED

What Niamey’s Airport attack means for Niger, West Africa and Sahel

By: Zagazola Makama

Niamey woke up in the morning of Thursday to disturbing reports of heavy gunfire and explosions around the airport zone an area that hosts Niger’s air force base, the headquarters of the joint Sahel force with Mali and Burkina Faso, and a strategic stockpile of uranium.

For nearly two hours, residents heard detonations, saw flashes in the sky resembling anti-aircraft fire, and reported buildings and vehicles in flames. Calm has since returned, but clarity has not.

At the time of writing, no official statement has fully explained what happened. No group has claimed responsibility. And while authorities insist the situation is under control, the silence leaves space for speculation in a region already on edge.

The location alone makes the event highly sensitive. The Niamey airport zone is not an ordinary district. It is the nerve centre of Niger’s air power and regional military coordination. It also hosts uranium stocks, a strategic resource with both national and international implications.

Any shooting in this area automatically raises three big questions: Was this an external attack, an internal security incident, or a mutiny? Some sources suggest the firing may have come from inside the base, which points to the possibility of an internal breach or unrest. If true, this would indicate deep cracks within Niger’s security architecture.

Was a strategic asset targeted? Even if the uranium was not hit, the fact that fighting occurred near such a site elevates the risk level for Niger and its partners. What does this say about control under the current junta? Since Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani took power, Niger has continued to lose it grip on issues of national security. An incident of this scale in the capital challenges that narrative.

For Nigeria, the situation in Niger is not remote. The two countries share a long, porous border, strong trade ties, and deep security interdependence. If Niger’s capital can experience hours of unexplained gunfire around its most sensitive installations, then cross-border insecurity risks increase. Any weakening of control in Niamey could embolden armed groups across the Sahel, including those operating near Nigeria’s northern frontier.

The Sahel’s security architecture looks more fragile. Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have positioned themselves as a new security bloc after breaking with ECOWAS. Incidents like this brings to the fore about how cohesive and effective that bloc really is. Strategic resources become geopolitical flashpoints. Uranium is not just a Nigerien issue; it has global implications. Any instability around such assets invites international concern and possible pressure.

There is no confirmed evidence yet of a foreign attack, a coup attempt, or a direct operation against uranium. So panic would be premature.
But silence is just as dangerous. In security matters, the absence of clear communication feeds rumours, conspiracy theories and political manipulation. In the Sahel’s volatile environment, that can quickly become destabilising.

What Niamey’s Airport attack means for Niger, West Africa and Sahel

Mysterious attack rocks Niger Air Base in Niamey, raises fears of mutiny

By: Zagazola Makama

A major security breach has hit Niger’s capital, Niamey, following a midnight attack on Air Base 101, damaging key military assets and deepening concerns about instability under the junta led by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani.

Multiple security sources said explosions were heard around 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the strategic air base located near the Diori Hamani International Airport.

The attack reportedly destroyed or disabled several aerial assets, including drones and fixed-wing aircraft, and severely damaged the Unified Force Command Centre.

Four civilian aircraft on the tarmac, including one operated by ASKY Airlines, were also affected, though no passengers were onboard at the time.

Sources said two trucks transporting uranium materials within the base perimeter were hit, but their cargo remained intact, averting a potentially larger disaster.

There were confirmed casualties, with ambulances seen moving in and out of the base area through the night. Some of the attackers were reportedly killed, while others were arrested and taken into custody by Niger’s intelligence services.

However, the identity of those behind the assault remains unclear.

While early speculation pointed to jihadist involvement, no armed group has claimed responsibility. Other security sources told Zagazola that the operation appeared to have been launched from inside the air base, suggesting a possible mutiny rather than an external terrorist strike.

“The pattern of the attack and access to sensitive areas strongly indicate insider involvement,” one regional security analyst said.

The incident has intensified fears that Gen. Tchiani is losing control over key institutions, especially the military, raising serious implications for Niger’s stability and for neighbouring countries, including Nigeria.

Niger plays a critical role in regional security in the Sahel, and any further breakdown of command and control could create new risks for border states already battling terrorism and banditry.

As of the time of filing this report, Niger’s authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

Mysterious attack rocks Niger Air Base in Niamey, raises fears of mutiny