A historic newspaper article from 1978 has re-emerged online, confirming the name President Bola Ahmed Tinubu used while studying at Chicago State University in the United States.
The publication listed Tinubu among a group of Black students who were part of a diversity initiative in the American racetrack business.
The document, dated June 18, 1978, introduced twelve students who were selected for an initiative aimed at exposing minorities to the racetrack business — a sector that was then heavily dominated by white Americans.
Tinubu’s name appeared clearly in the report, placing him at Chicago State University during that period.
In the article, Tinubu was recognized as a Nigerian student who expressed interest in using American business strategies to drive economic growth back home.
The President was quoted in the publication expressing his intention to use the knowledge gained from the programme to support economic growth and job creation in Nigeria and Africa.
“BOLA TINUBU, a student [of Chicago State University] from Nigeria, said he expects to take his findings back to African businessmen as a plan for his country to make more money and create jobs for the unemployed,” the report read.
The historical newspaper page was recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Nigerian journalist Tolu Ogunlesi, who described it as a fascinating discovery from the archives.
Ogunlesi noted that the publication served as a verifiable record of Tinubu’s educational identity and participation in a notable 1970s diversity initiative in the United States.
His post has since drawn widespread attention, reigniting conversations around Tinubu’s academic history.
Many people view the discovery as an additional piece of evidence confirming his link to Chicago State University, which has been a subject of public debate for years.
Recall that controversies surrounding Tinubu’s academic credentials became a major public issue ahead of the 2023 elections, with court cases and political rivals questioning the authenticity of certain documents linked to his Chicago State University education.
However, the reappearance of a 1978 newspaper report has now added a fresh dimension to the conversation.