The Uncertainties About Tinubu’s Chicago School Mate

By Chief Dr Emeka Kalu

The news making round as claimed Mr President that one Alex Zingman from Belarus enrolled, attended and graduated the same year with him from the University of Chicago in 1979 remains a qualms that needs to be clarified.

In his speech, Mr. President told the Nigerians  that Alex Zuma was his school mate and having done well in entreprenuer management, bringing him into the fora would promote bilateral relationship for economic prosperity of both nations.

In this regard, I feel very worried as to the possibility of Alex Zingman who was born in the year 1966 and was supposed to be a young boy in his thirteen could be in school with Mr. President who claimed he graduated from Chicago University in 1979.  In leadership, integrity remains the only output whose values cannot depreciate and it behoves on leaders to ensure their integrity is maintained at all costs. It could have been more honourable that Mr. President told us that Alex has been a good friend of his, having met him few years ago in one of his trips to the United States. He could either have  told us that he has known Mr. Alex as a successful businessman with the entrepreneurial capacity to promote both countries bilateral relationship than quoting him as his school mate.

This is because it is unbelievable for any man in his right thought to envisage a young boy in his thirteen to be in the University, considering the stages of growth in man. If I may ask, could he Alex be enrolled in a University at the age of six, noting when he was born or could it be that in Belarus , toddlers in the age of two were trained and nurtured  with high school standard curriculum? It is really  confusing but  nevertheless , it is unprofessional for a respected  leader of his ranking to make a public speech capable of ridiculing his exalted office to win public confidence in his  government.

In all, Nigerians are well informed and shall continue to speak up each time such wrongs are perceived. It is the beauty of democracy for the people to always constructively engage the government which when properly  enculturated and accepted without bias would  help, sustaining and  promoting the values of democratic leadership in  our human society.


Chief Dr Emeka Kalu,
Director General,
Global Initiatives For Good Governance.