How varsities can be problem-solvers —Okebukola

FORMER Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC),Professor Peter Okebukola, has expressed optimism that Nigerian universities are capable of providing solutions to at least 40 percent of the problems hindering Nigeria’s greatness and ability to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in most sectors of the economy.

Okebukola, a professor of Science and Computer Education, shared this thought and perspective while delivering the 2023 convocation lecture of Babcock University, Ilisan- Remo, Ogun State, on Tuesday.

He spoke on the topic, “From Tangible to Virtual Reality: Redefining the Nigerian University System.”

According to him, for universities to become substantial solution providers in an economy required that their research capacities through both local and international training are strengthened, research laboratories and workshops are improved and there are also provisions for sizable grants for quality research works, among others.

These, he said, are the enablers and if they are not in place, it would be difficult for any university to do something substantial in this regard.

Okebukola noted that as regards the theme of his lecture, tangible is the past and present situations while the future is virtual reality.

He explained that the future of university education in Nigeria needed a quick-fix intervention based on a gap analysis conducted over the last two months by his group of scholars.

According to him, access to university education must emphasise more on the quality of learners coming out from primary and secondary schools.

He pointed out that once the outputs from primary and secondary schools, which are foundations, are weak, it will reflect largely on the quality of products being produced by universities.

He said both primary and secondary education would need to be strengthened to lessen the quality challenges being faced at the university level in the country.

He said this could be done by ensuring that the out-of-school children are enrolled in school; schools are well equipped, enough quality teachers are engaged and well remunerated and are also exposed to continuing professional development.

He explained that it was only when there is assurance of an improved basic education put in place by actors such as local governments, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the various state governments that there could be some guarantee of improved inputs into the university system.

He said “I am convinced that if by 2024 such guarantees are gradually in place, in another five years, our universities will begin to witness a stream of better quality inputs from the secondary school system.”

On the future of quality in the university system, Professor Okebukola noted that “quality is driven by a multiplicity of factors including the curriculum, teacher quality and motivation, curriculum delivery, quality of governance, and quality of resourcing.”

He said he is happy that NUC has put in place the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) with 30 percent content from each university to reflect institutional uniqueness.

Okebukola commended the leadership of Babcock University for the progress the university had made so far in terms of infrastructures, academic development, quality of staff and quality of graduates, as well as research contributions to the nation’s development.

He particularly gave kudos to the president\vice chancellor of the university, Professor Tayo Ademola, describing him as a silent performer.

He urged him and his team not to rest on their oars, but to work harder and surpass the current status in no distant time.

In his remark earlier, the vice chancellor, Professor Tayo thanked the convocation lecturer for accepting to perform the role and described him as one of the finest intelligentsia Nigeria is blessed to have.

He promised that Babcock University would continue to live up to its mandate of producing well-rounded graduates, quality research and community services.

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