Overview and History of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Iresse, Kwara State

 
Located in the peaceful setting of Oko-Irese in the Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) stands as a vibrant and ambitious private university dedicated to the holistic formation of students in an era of rapid change. Since its establishment, TAU has set out not just to produce degree-holders, but to cultivate graduates who are ethically grounded, technically skilled, entrepreneurially minded and globally aware.
In a Nigerian higher education landscape often challenged by resource constraints, graduate unemployment, and curriculum lag, TAU’s vision emphasises a “STEM-i” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Innovations) ecosystem complemented by entrepreneurship, character development and community service. 
What makes TAU particularly interesting is its relative youth and rapid growth. Licensed in 2021, the university quickly expanded its academic programmes, secured full accreditation for its initial offerings, and made substantial investments in infrastructure, renewable energy and campus development. 

For prospective students and stakeholders, TAU offers an environment where the conventional “lecture-and-exam” approach is complemented by practical skills, research opportunities, industry engagement and a campus life that emphasises community, security and innovation. For the host region of Kwara South, the university is also a significant investment in higher education infrastructure, local development, skills retention and regional empowerment.
This blog piece will explore TAU in detail: its official web presence, motto (and what that suggests), the founder, its history, the chancellor, accreditation and recognition, academic structure and facilities, campus life, and finally any notable alumni (as available at present). My goal is to present a humanised, informative and educative overview of the institution.

##Official Website
The official website for Thomas Adewumi University is https://www.tau.edu.ng/This portal offers key information for prospective students, faculty, staff and partners—covering admissions, academic programmes, news & events, research initiatives, campus life and strategic planning. The site highlights TAU’s ambition to be “Nigeria’s Leading Private University!” and emphasises its “fully residential” model and emphasis on high-quality teaching, research and entrepreneurship

##Motto
According to the uniRank profile of the institution, the motto of Thomas Adewumi University is “Scientia Sermo Sapientia” – Knowledge Talks, Wisdom Listens.” 

This Latin phrase captures the university’s belief that knowledge (scientia) must be accompanied by reflection and wisdom (sapientia), and that education is not merely about accumulation of facts but about listening, integrating, applying and serving. It suggests a readiness to move beyond rote learning and to encourage students to become wise actors in their fields and communities.

##Founder
The founder of Thomas Adewumi University is Engr. Dr. Johnson Bamidele Olorunsola Adewumi, FNSE. 
Thomas Adewumi University

In addition to founding TAU, Dr. Adewumi has a distinguished background:

He graduated from University of Lagos (1973-76) as best student in the Department of Civil Engineering. 
Thomas Adewumi University

He earned an MSc in Engineering Hydrology (1979) and PhD in Civil Engineering (1983) from Imperial College London. 
Thomas Adewumi University

Over decades he has worked both in public and private sectors on major water-resources and hydropower projects, specialising in engineering design, construction, policy formulation and research. 
Thomas Adewumi University

His philanthropic community contributions in his home region (Oko-Irese and environs) are noteworthy — establishing schools, a 37-bed hospital, cooperative societies and youth empowerment programmes. 
Thomas Adewumi University

Because of this background, the founding of TAU reflects not just an educational initiative, but a wider vision of regional development, capacity-building, and leveraging higher education as an agent of change.

##History
Thomas Adewumi University’s history is brief but robust, reflecting a rapid build-up phase and an ambitious institutional trajectory. Here is an overview:

Licensed in April 2021, TAU received its official approval to operate as a private university in Nigeria. 
The university opened its doors on 16 May 2021 with an initial intake under 13 academic programmes across three faculties. 

From the beginning, the founder’s vision was to create a fully residential institution, equipped with modern infrastructure and an entrepreneurial mindset, designed to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and beyond. The website emphasises TAU as “Nigeria’s Leading Light in tertiary education and the fastest-growing STEM-i Ecosystem.” 

In its first few years, several milestones were achieved:

The university established a large campus site in Oko-Irese (with land area measures mentioned for security fencing and expansion). 

It invested in renewable energy infrastructure, notably a 214 kW solar farm which serves both the campus and neighbouring communities; this underscores its innovative and community-oriented approach. 

The institution expanded its academic offerings and rapidly achieved full accreditation for its initial programmes. For example: by mid-2024 the university announced full accreditation of 11 programmes. 

In April 2025, TAU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kwara State Government to convert the Omu-Aran General Hospital into a teaching and research hospital for its medical students—this linkage with healthcare service delivery reinforces its commitment to practical impact. 

Thus, while TAU is very young in the Nigerian university sector (just a few years old), its pace of growth is notable. The history of the institution is strongly anchored in community investment, infrastructure innovation, curriculum relevance, and a forward-looking mindset. For students seeking a newer institution with momentum, TAU offers an interesting option.

##Chancellor
The Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University is the same person as the founder: Engr. Dr. Johnson Bamidele Olorunsola Adewumi, PhD, DIC, FNSE (Asiwaju of Oko-Irese). 
Thomas Adewumi Universit

He studied at the University of Lagos (Best student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1976) and at Imperial College London where he earned his MSc and PhD. 
Thomas Adewumi University

He founded Decrown West Africa Company Ltd in 1989, and expanded into construction, electromechanical works, and water resources consultancy (Construction Products Nigeria Ltd). 
Thomas Adewumi University

He has served as National President of the Oko Development Association (1993-2000); and with his wife, he established youth empowerment initiatives (Rural Youth Empowerment Project) in his community. 
Thomas Adewumi University

His public recognition includes being conferred the title of Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and serving as President of the Nigerian National Committee on Large Dams (NICOLD). 
Thomas Adewumi University

His community honours include installation as Asiwaju (and Yeye Asiwaju) of Oko-Irese Land in 2008, in recognition of service. 
Thomas Adewumi University

In the context of TAU, his role as Chancellor means the institution is guided by someone with deep professional experience, clear community roots, and a vision for education aligned with national infrastructure and development needs.

##Accreditation and Recognition
Accreditation and regulatory recognition are essential for any higher education institution’s credibility and ability to award recognised degrees. TAU has made strong strides in this regard:

In June 2024, the National Universities Commission (NUC) granted full accreditation to all 11 academic programmes the university presented in its October/November 2023/24 accreditation exercise—representing 100% pass mark. 

The accredited programmes include: Accounting; Business Administration; Medical Laboratory Science; Physiotherapy; Mass Communication; Computer Science; Software Engineering; Biochemistry; Microbiology; Criminology & Security Studies; Economics. 

TAU has also signed strategic MOUs for delivering practical healthcare education (e.g., the upgrade of Omu-Aran General Hospital to a teaching hospital). 

Beyond academic accreditation, TAU has been acknowledged by external bodies: for instance, in 2024 it was named 2nd Runner Up Tertiary Institution of the Year by the Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (KWACCIMA).

For students and parents, this accreditation and recognition confirm that TAU’s programmes are legitimate, meet national quality standards, and are growing in reputation.


##Academic Structure and Facilities
TAU’s academic structure and facilities reflect its youth, modern approach and ambition. Here are key features (at least six) worth noting:

Faculty of Basic Medical & Health Sciences

Faculty of Management & Social Sciences

Faculty of Computing & Applied Sciences


##Campus Life and Facilities
Campus life at Thomas Adewumi University is designed to be holistic, secure, innovative and supportive—recognizing that student experience extends beyond lectures. Key highlights:

Residential Living: As a fully residential institution, students live on campus in secure hostels, which promotes community living, ease of access to facilities, peer interaction and immersion in campus intellectual and social life. 

Safe & Secure Environment: TAU’s investment in security (as noted earlier) underscores its commitment to providing a peaceful learning environment, vital for student focus and wellbeing. 

Modern Infrastructure & Connectivity: Lecture rooms, offices, computer labs and e-resource centres are equipped with multimedia technology, high-speed wireless networking, and modern amenities geared for 21st-century learning. 

Green Campus & Sustainable Features: The solar farm, landscaping, and campus planning reflect an ethos of sustainability. Student training in renewable energy and entrepreneurship link academic and campus life. 

Student Engagement & Extracurriculars: TAU hosts events such as the first ACSPN Empowerment Series (for Mass Communication students) and other workshops that integrate academics with professional development, community service and leadership. 

Community Service Orientation: Students are encouraged to engage in skill acquisition, international certifications, and service tasks. For example, during matriculation the Chancellor emphasised the requirement for community service and achieving at least two international certifications. 

Healthcare Partnerships & Practical Exposure: With agreements to convert hospitals into teaching and research centres, students in health sciences benefit from practical exposure, clinical placements and real-world learning. 

Entrepreneurial & Innovation Culture: The campus supports entrepreneurship, innovation competitions and research. The solar farm and partnership links underscore this. Students are likely to benefit from entrepreneurship labs or centres embedded in campus life. 

In sum, campus life at TAU aims to foster not just academic success but personal development, innovation, social responsibility and readiness for the workplace or further studies.