President Bola Tinubu’s recent claim that Belarusian businessman Alex Zingman was his classmate at Chicago State University (CSU) has ignited fresh scrutiny over his academic history.
During the launch of the Renewed Hope Agriculture Mechanisation Programme in Abuja on June 23, Tinubu described Zingman as a “very good friend” and “neighbour” from his time at CSU, where he graduated in 1979 with a degree in business administration, accounting, and management. The statement, meant as a lighthearted anecdote, has instead raised questions due to inconsistencies in Zingman’s background.
Public records indicate Zingman was born on November 26, 1966, making him 13 years old in 1979 when Tinubu claims to have graduated. Furthermore, Zingman studied at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) from 1991 to 1995, earning a master’s degree in business marketing, while Tinubu attended CSU, a different institution, from 1977 to 1979.
Critics, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have questioned how a 13-year-old could have been Tinubu’s classmate, with some calling the claim implausible. Atiku’s media office highlighted Zingman’s controversial reputation, noting allegations of arms trafficking and financial improprieties in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising concerns about Tinubu’s association with him.
The controversy adds to ongoing debates about Tinubu’s academic credentials, fueled by past inconsistencies in his certificate submitted to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission before the 2023 election. Tinubu’s supporters argue he never claimed they attended CSU simultaneously, suggesting a possible misunderstanding. The presidency has not clarified the remarks, leaving Nigerians demanding transparency about Tinubu’s academic past and his ties to Zingman, who facilitated the mechanisation programme’s collaboration with Belarus.
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