I Resigned Nine Months Ago As TRCN Registrar, Prof. Ajiboye clears air on exit

Former Registrar and Chief Executive of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, has debunked reports suggesting that he was sacked by President Bola Tinubu, clarifying that he voluntarily resigned his appointment since in August 2024 after serving meritoriously for eight years.

Ajiboye, in a statement issued to address what he described as a “sinister publication,” said the report falsely claiming that he was removed from office was both mischievous and ignorant, especially as it ignored established procedures within the Federal Ministry of Education.

“My attention has just been drawn to a sinister publication… talking about President Tinubu sacking Prof Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye as Registrar/CE of TRCN.

“While one can easily dismiss the publication as a hatchet job from an ignorant writer… it is imperative to set the record straight for future purposes,” he said.

Ajiboye explained that he formally resigned from the position effective August 30, 2024, and returned to his academic post at the University of Ibadan on September 1, 2024 — the same institution from which he was originally appointed.

He noted that upon his exit, he handed over the reins of the agency to the most senior director at TRCN, who oversaw its operations until the recent appointment of a substantive Registrar and Chief Executive, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, by President Tinubu.

“The letter of acknowledgement of the handing-over by the Federal Ministry of Education attested to the high-level performance and unparalleled achievements recorded by TRCN under my leadership,” he added.

Describing the claim of a presidential sack as “very strange and uncalled for,” Ajiboye warned the media outlet behind the publication to retract the false report or face possible legal action.

Ajiboye served as Registrar of TRCN for two terms, during which he is credited with strengthening the professionalization of teaching in Nigeria and positioning the Council as a key player in educational reform across Africa.