At the launch of the Renewed Hope Agriculture Mechanisation
Programme in Abuja on June 23, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu introduced Alexander
Zingman, a businessman from Belarus, as his old schoolmate and neighbor at
Chicago State University. This was a moment captured on video, as when the two
were equally academic mates, Tinubu received them with warmth.
'Alex, to all of you, was my very good neighbor, and went to
the same school with me in Chicago,' Tinubu said at the event, optimistically
adding, 'Chicago University will be proud of us.' The meeting also seemed to be
a personally meaningful moment for the Nigerian president, who seemed genuinely
impressed by Zingman's success as a businessman.
Background on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Personal Details:
Full Name: Bola Ahmed Tinubu
May 29, 2023 ' Present: President of Nigeria
Former Position: Governor of Lagos State, 1999-2007
Education claimed: Chicago State University 1977-1979
Political Ascendancy: Tinubu became a celebrated Governor of
Lagos State and a national political giant as a founding father of the All
Progressives Congress APC. He did, but went on to win the presidential election
in 2023 against Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) amidst
several court challenges.
Background on Alexander Zingman
Known Details:
Nationality: Belarusian
Profession: entrepreneur/businessman
Reportedly Attended: Chicago State University (at the same
time as Tinubu)
Current Status: Claims to be a successful international
businessman
The details of Zingman's businesses and his background are
scant and largely public, which casts his claims and timeline into less
verifiable territory.
The Age and Timeline Controversies
Tinubu's Age Gaps The most consistent controversy of
President Tinubu relates to dramatic discrepancies in his age across official
documents:
Documented Age Variations:
Official documents from the time of his inauguration list
his birth year as 1952. But his Chicago State University transcript indicated
that he was born in 1954. This is a 2-year discrepancy already highlighted with
no appropriate explanation.
Educational Timeline Questions
Considering Tinubu's purported attendance at Chicago State
University between 1977-1979, and his purported years of birth of either 1952
or 1954, he would have been: If born in 1952: attending university at ages
25-27. If born in 1954, 23-25 years old when attending university. As for Alex
Sigman, the same age range would apply for him to be a 'classmate', though no
official birth date has been given for Zingman to confirm this.
The Certificate Forgery Allegations
The 2023 Legal Battle
The legitimacy of Tinubu's Chicago State University
credentials then became a central legal and political battleground during and
after the 2023 presidential election:
Key Allegations:
Tinubu's opponents, headed by Atiku Abubakar, accused him of
submitting falsified papers to the Nigerian Independent National Electoral
Commission. These documents were the subject of court cases in Nigeria and in the
U.S., where their authenticity was challenged. Chicago State University's
registrar, Caleb Westberg, 'testified under oath regarding the discrepancies
between the certificates'
University Responses and Contradictions
This went on to become a controversy when Chicago State
University issued the following contradictory statements:
2022 Confirmation:
But, in response to a PUNCH newspaper inquiry, the
university initially stated that Tinubu was a student from 1977 to 1979. They
told him he had a bachelor's degree.
2023 Court Testimony:
At some point in the court proceedings, the CSU authorities
verified variations in the certificate that Tinubu presented. The registrar
also swore under oath that the certificate in question was not the university's
certificate in the form in which it was presented.
Some discrepancies were attributed to administrative error
and reissuance by the university.
Discrepancies in Dates and Genders
There were specific problems cited in the documents:
Initial date of graduation, June 27, 1979
Incorrect gender designation in some of the documents
Replacement documents do not match the original certificate
The Zingman Introduction Was Timed Strategically
Political climate
Alex Zingman's public unveiling comes at a pivotal moment:
This comes nearly two years after the height of the certificate
forgery scandal.
This comes after Tinubu triumphed in his presidential court
case.
It is a living witness to the purported attendance at
Chicago State University.
Issues with getting verifications
But many questions also remain:
Lack of Independent Verification: Zingman's purported
attendance at Chicago State University has not been publicly verified by an
independent entity.
Documentary Support: There are no class rosters, transcripts
or other records of their collective educational experience
Age and Attendance Timeline: Zingman's age and his
attendance at CSU are still not confirmed.
Discrepancies and Questions
Lacking Documentation
The public reunion still leaves several pieces of evidence
missing:
Contemporaneous Evidence: Yearbook photos, class lists, or
other documents from the period provide no evidence of both men attending
CSU at the same time.
Academic Transcripts: Zingman's school records at CSU remain
sealed.
Age Verification: Official birth certificate or age verification
for Zingman has not been provided
The Neighbor Claim
Tinubu's claim that Zingman was his 'very good neighbor' in
Chicago also raises further questions:
Living Situation: There is no evidence that they lived together
or resided near each other in Chicago.
Length of Relationship: It is not clear what the length and nature
of their relationship was, during and post-university.
Contact Timeline: There is no documentation of when, and in
what way, they remained in contact over the decades.
International Implications
Belarus Connection
Zingman's Belarusian nationality complicates the issue even
further:
Current Relations: Belarus' complicated relationship with
both Russia and the West
Business Interests: Nothing is known about the kind of
business Zingman is in or any possible ties to Nigerian interests
Diplomatic Implications: Public affection for a Belarusian
businessman may have diplomatic implications for Nigeria.
Analysis and Conclusions
What the Reunion Proves
Alexander Zingman's public unveiling supplies:
Living Testimony: A person who alleges to have been a
witness to the time Tinubu spent in Chicago.
Personal Validation: Validation of Tinubu's narrative of his
university experience
Relationship Evidence: Evidence showing that a friendship
was maintained for decades
What Remains Unresolved
But major questions remain:
Age Discrepancies: There is still an unaccounted-for two-year discrepancy in Tinubu's birth years.
Certificate Issues: The challenges regarding the documents
submitted to INEC remain unresolved
Lack of Independent Verification: There is no verification
from a third party that both men attended CSU at the same time
Timeline of Events: Gaps in what they know about their
relationship/contact for 40+ years
The Broader Context
This debate does exist within a larger context of document
vetting and credential authentication problems in Nigeria. This is highlighted
by the case of:
Weaknesses of institutions: Lacunae in records and
verification systems
The Political Weaponization of Educational Credentials
Global Attention: The ability of controversies in Nigerian
politics to attract international attention
Conclusion
President Tinubu's reunion with Alexander Zingman is a
personal reunion and a political moment. Though it lends partial support to
Tinubu's version of his Chicago State University saga, it in no way answers the
core issues of age discrepancies, authenticity of his certificates, or
discrepancies in the timeline of his educational journey, that have dogged him
for years.
While Zingman's appearance as a witness to Tinubu's college
days is new and important, absent further documentation and third-party
corroboration, doubts will remain about the complete truth of the president's
educational story. While Nigeria has, and continues to have, transparency and
accountability problems in governance, this is significant to this case and
also shows the challenges associated with attempting to fact-check claims in
political discourse.
Ultimately, Tinubu's reuniting with Zingman is sweet on a
personal level but also represents the murky relationship between personal
history, political credibility, and public accountability in Nigeria today.
