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  • Ex-NUC boss Okebukola to unveil first African scholarly referencing style

    Ex-NUC boss Okebukola to unveil first African scholarly referencing style

    A former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, is to formally launch the African Scholarly Referencing Style (ASRS), the first referencing style conceived, developed, and owned by Africa.

    The official unveiling of ASRS will put Africa on the brink of a ground-breaking intellectual milestone with Okebukola as one of the continent’s most decorated higher education reformers.

    ASRS is designed to fill a major gap in global scholarship. Despite Africa’s deep intellectual heritage and thousands of universities, none of the world’s 29 major referencing styles originates from Africa.

    The existing systems, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, Vancouver, Harvard, and IEEE, are entirely Western in origin and structure.

    The Secretary-General, Association of African Universities (AAU), Professor Olusola Oyewole, said: “The proposal by Professor Peter Okebukola, who is AAU’s Ambassador for West Africa, is for the development of an African-origin referencing system.”

    According to him, this represents a ground-breaking and highly visionary contribution to Africa’s intellectual sovereignty.

    “Professor Okebukola’s initiative rightly responds to long standing concerns around epistemic colonialism, the marginalisation of African epistemologies, and the under-recognition of African scholarly traditions in global citation frameworks.”

    Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, Okebukola said, “ASRS responds to a longstanding gap in global academic practice. Although Africa has produced centuries of scholarship and hosts thousands of universities, none of the twenty-nine internationally recognised referencing styles currently in use originates from the continent.

    “Systems such as APA, MLA, Chicago, Vancouver, Harvard, and IEEE were all created outside Africa and reflect Western epistemological traditions. ASRS offers Africa an unprecedented opportunity to assert its scholarly identity and intellectual sovereignty.”

    Okebukola confirmed that the initiative has already secured strong continental and international endorsement.

    “The Association of African Universities has formally expressed its support and willingness to host its development and deployment, while Senior UNESCO officials and leaders of Academies in Africa have commended the initiative as timely, transformative, and aligned with global efforts to diversify knowledge systems.

    “In addition, more than 500 leading scholars from universities and research institutions both within and outside Africa have endorsed ASRS, underscoring its relevance and global credibility,” he added.

    Among the over 500 scholars who expressed delight at the emergence of ASRS as proposed by Okebukola are Professor Jibrila D. Amin, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri; Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, former Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University; Professor Sola Akinrinade, former Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University and past President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, among others.  

  • Okebukola harps on quality education

    Okebukola harps on quality education

    Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Emeritus Prof. Peter Okebukola, has harped on the need for quality education in schools.

    He said that is the only way the child could be properly developed and by extension the society.

    He stated this during Albesta Academy, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos’ 18th valedictory recently themed, ‘’Soaring with excellence and grace’’. Thirty-nine pupils passed out.

    He commended the school for providing quality education and urged representatives of Ibeju-Lekki Council, the host local government of the Academy, at the event, to inform their leaders that Albesta is the home of quality education.

      He said it was for this reason that the host community and state, among others, are proud of the school, which has produced many highfliers.

    Okebukola, who is the grand patron of the school, congratulated the owner, management and staff for their dedication as well as parents and guardians ‘’for entrusting their children in their care’’, which made them to have successfully completed their education in the 2024/2025 session.

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    The eminent educationist advised the graduates to accept whatever course of study the universities or Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) offered them, saying they might know what the future holds for them.

    He also advised them to be serious at 100 level. He warned that 100 level is not ‘’a piece of cake’’ and that many brilliant students miss it in year one because they were playful. ‘’Study hard. Be wary of bad boys and girls. Do your best to be close to God,’’ he counselled.

    For those who would go abroad for further studies, Okebukola warned them against the new freedom they would find themselves in and that it could swallow them if they do not remember the narrow path they grew up on. Also, he advised parents to always keep an eye on their children as they still need their guide.

  • Okebukola hails milestone in Nigeria’s role in global AI revolution 

    Okebukola hails milestone in Nigeria’s role in global AI revolution 

    The National Coordinator of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Awareness Day and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Peter Okebukola has described as a significant milestone, Nigeria’s role in the global revolution in Artificial Intelligence. 

    The inaugural 2025 AI Awareness Day in Higher Education was held on Monday, February 17, 2025, and co-hosted by the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Okebukola Science Foundation (OSF) and the Association of African Universities (AAU).

    The national virtual event brought together 856 participants including heads of regulatory agencies (NUC, NBTE and NCCE), scholars from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, policymakers, educators, AI practitioners, and stakeholders from across the Nigerian higher education system to explore the potential of AI, share best practices, and contribute to the shaping of national policies that ensure ethical AI deployment. 

    Goodwill messages were received from other African countries and scholars from other parts of the world.

    The objectives of the AI Awareness Day which was chaired by Professor Yakubu Ochefu, former Secretary General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities include to raise awareness about AI’s role in revolutionising higher education in Nigeria; present a situation report on Nigeria’s progress in AI education and its contribution to global AI research; celebrate achievements in AI education and research within Nigerian higher education institutions; address opportunities and challenges in integrating AI into university curricula, research, and administration; and foster discussions on AI-driven innovations that tackle national educational challenges.

    Key activities at the event included a symposium; dissemination of the 3-volume Handbook on AI and Quality Higher Education; the presentation of a situation report on AI in Nigerian higher education; and launch of the AI in Higher Education in Africa Newsletter. 

    One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to recognise outstanding contributions in AI research, education, and policy within the Nigerian higher education system. 

    The first position in the Best Institutional AI Policy in Higher Education Award in the universities category was won by Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Second and third positions were won by Lagos State University, Ojo and Federal University of Technology, Minna respectively. 

    In the polytechnics category, the first prize went to Living Spring College of Technology and Innovation, Osogbo. For the Best AI Researcher in the universities category, Prof. Olatunji Sunday Olusanya of Adekunle Ajasin University came first. Dr. Salau Ayodeji of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti and Dr. Awotunde Joseph Bamidele of the University of Ilorin came second and third respectively.

     For the polytechnics category, Mr. Mohammed Modiu of Yaba college of Technology came first. Mr. Salami Ayo of Federal College of Education, Iwo came first in the colleges of education category. 

    Other awards include the Best Programme in Artificial Intelligence. For the universities category, the B.Sc. Computer Science of Thomas Adewumi University came first. Programmes of four universities tied in the second position. These are B.Sc. Management Information Systems of Covenant University, Ota; B.Sc. Industrial Mathematics (Computer Option) also of Covenant University, Ota; and B.Sc. Computer Science of the University of Benin. 

    The first position in the universities category for the Best AI Application for Enhancing Teaching and Learning went to Prof. Onyenwe Ikechukwu Ekene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Five scholars tied in the second position. These are Dr. Oguntosin Victoria of Covenant University; Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola of Olabisi Onabanjo University; Professor Busari Mutiu of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and Professor Ibezim Nnenna of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In the polytechnic category, first prize went to Dr. Okikiola Folasade of Yaba College of Technology. For the colleges of education category, first prize was earned by Dr. Usman Stephen of Ipere College of Education Agyaragu, Nasarawa State, while Mr. Bako Mahmud Malam of Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education Kangere Bauchi State came second.

    Key resolutions include expanding the AI Awareness Day to all levels of the educational system; development of a strategic plan to ensure that Nigeria plays a leadership role in the global development of AI; strengthening the implementation of the AU strategic plan on AI; and forging strong public-private partnerships, investing boldly in our people and infrastructure.

    Others are that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA, other agencies of government and other stakeholders should involve the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) in policy making, implementation and other matters of Artificial Intelligence; and that within the 30% institutional allowance in the CCMAS, Nigerian universities should be encouraged to start GST courses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in place of or in addition to the existing computer appreciation courses.

  • Okebukola for NUC ‘ Distinguished Lecture’

    Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola, will deliver the second NUC Distinguished Lecture titled: “On the march to re-invent the curricula of Nigerian universities for improved relevance and global competiveness”.

    The lecture, which holds on Wednesday next week, will be chaired by former president Olusegun Obasanjo. It aims at identifying critical curricular issues pertaining to national needs assessment and global best practices.

    Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu is the guest of honour at the event, which would also have in attendance vice-chancellors, members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), among other stakeholders.

    The lecture is being organised to set the tone for broader stakeholder interaction and engagement in the curriculum reform process. The maiden event titled: ‘Global rankings and the Nigerian higher education system’ was delivered by Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo in December last year.

  • Honour for Okebukola, others at LASU convocation

    When former National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary Prof Peter Okebukola, stepped forward to receive the Lagos State University (LASU) Distinguished Professor’s Award at the insitution’s 21st convocation last week, he was not only making history as the first to be so honoured, he was simply fulfilling destiny.

    Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos who called him out also revealed that   Okebukola is the son of a police officer.

    Oba Akiolu said Okebukola’s father  was a cadet officer under him. This was when the monarch was a police officer, before providence made him a first class monarch. The award was first of its kind in the history of the 34-year-old institution and Okebukola was the first to be honoured with it.

    Eulogising Okebukola, Oba Akiolu said he would have turned down the invitation to attend the event, but when he realised that Okebukola was to be honoured, he got more interested in it. According to him,  he was invited by one of his chiefs.

    ”When one of my chiefs in Lagos invited me (to LASU), I was initially glad to be here, but when he mentioned that Peter Okebukola was to be honoured, I became more interested,” he said.

    The monarch recalled his relationship with Okebukola’s father: “And this is food for thought for us all, that prayer and dedication pay. His (Okebukola’s) father worked under me as a cadet officer. He was very prayerful and highly disciplined.

    “He was an elderly person and older than me; yet he was very humble. He descended so low in his relationship with me. He would say to me every morning: ‘Oga, let us pray’

    “He always believed in prayers and thought good of everybody. I remember he once told me that I would be the Inspector-General, but I rejected it because I do not want anybody to start dictating to me on what to do. And this is why I usually say that every nation gets the police it deserves.

    “Who would have known that the son of a common police officer would rise to become a distinguished professor today?”

    Looking straight into Okebukola’s eyes, the monarch said: “It’s about 20 years last that I set my eyes on you . That is why I chose to be here to see you. It’s unfortunate that your father is now late. I wish he were still alive to see the results of those prayers then.”

    Okebukola, a former LASU Acting VC and a professor of Science Education, was honoured with two other philanthropists – Chairman, Premier Lotto, Chief Kessington Adebutu (a.k.a Baba Ijebu) and Executive Vice Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija.

    Earlier, both the Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor of the university, Justice Adesola Oguntade (rtd) and Prof Adebayo Ninalowo, lauded Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for remaining committed to his promise of improving infrastructure in LASU.

    “Your Excellency, we want to especially thank you for matching your words with action. It would be recalled that at the 20th Convocation last year, you gave us your word to invest massively in our university, with a proviso of sustenance of peace and stability,” Ninalowo said.

    Ambode recalled that the only connection he had with Okebukola  was that the professor once taught his (Ambode’s) wife as an undergraduate in LASU.

    Earlier, Governor Ambode thanked LASU’s management for changing the negative impression people have about the school to fascinating stories.

    He said he was in the university for the second time, after its 20th Convocation last year, to do an assessment of works done so far.

    He particularly thanked members of staff and the  unions for engaging in dialogue to ensure peace.

    According to him, his administration would not relent in attracting more facilities and innovations to the school.

    He challenged the management to move beyond its status as the best state university in Nigeria by the NUC’s assessment to be one of the best three in the country by 2020, and the preferred university of choice by 2023.

    Ambode said one of his government’s ongoing project is the public-private partnership to deliver 6000 bed-space hostel to the school.

    ‘It’s worthy to mention that Lagos State University effectively hosted and provided necessary facilities for the training of final year students across our tertiary institutions in the state during the 13-week intensive training tagged: “Ready, set, work”

    “This initiative is targeted at raising future world-class entrepreneurs and captains of industries from our students. Since this is a continuous programme, I want our students to take this seriously because it is not an opportunity that is available elsewhere,” he said.

  • How to attain world-class status, by Okebukola

    Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Crawford University Igbesa Ogun  State, Prof Peter Okebukola has recommended six strategies which government must undertake if the nation’s universities must attain world class standard within a 10-year target.

    Okebukola spoke at the eighth convocation of the university on Wednesday last week.

    One of the conditions, according to the  erudite scholar, is the ability of universities to move beyond ‘provinciality to universality’

    “Over time, Okebukola began, ‘I’ve since realised that when university is cited in a particular place, the vice chancellor is usually from that place or region. The host community also wants to ensure that it is their kinsmen that hold sensitive positions and dictates who gets what.

    “This is not healthy for our (university) system; and until we begin to change our mentality and see universities as universal in nature, we may still be far away from that world class status,” he warned.

    He also canvassed the filtering of products from basic and SSS levels into the university system.

    “I also realised that majority of those we feed into the tertiary institutions are mediocres who have foundation defect. Unfortunately, we now expect our universities to perform magic on them. This is not possible! Sometimes I’m amazed when some university lecturers cannot construct a sentence correctly in English. This is because such person’s foundation is very poor. In a nutshell, what we are doing is garbage in; garbage out.”

    Other measures Okebukola stated, were: improvement in quality and quantity of teachers; having a good ranking system to stimulate healthy rilvary among universities, producing 21st century curriculum,  improving Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as well as improved staff training.

    Crawford University’s vice chancellor, Prof Isaac Rotimi Ajayi, said the university graduated 231 and 37 across its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

    At the undergraduate level, Ajayi said, 21 had first class,  86 fell under second class (upper), 75 were under second class (lower) 38 made third class, while  nine had a pass degree.

    “We are confident that these graduates have worked diligently to earn their certificates in character and learning, and deemed worthy to be granted the exalted degrees of this university. We believe they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of their peers anywhere in the world,” he said.

    Crawford Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr Gabriel Kayode Ajayi, challenged the graduating students to live up the values of their proprietor- base-Apostolic Faith Mission.

    ‘’My appeal to graduating students is to maintain the discipline, hardwork, quality of character and other virtues which you have imbibed through your interaction with the Apostolic Faith Church. Constantly bear in mind the motto_ of your alma mater: ‘Knowledge with Godliness’.

  • Registrar’ll revolutionise JAMB, says Okebukola

    Registrar’ll revolutionise JAMB, says Okebukola

    A former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, has said the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-ahaq Oloyede, will revolutionise the agency.

    He also said the outgoing Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, did well.

    Okebukola, in a statement, said the registrar is “a no-nonsense, clear-headed scholar, who is globally consulted on higher education matters”.

    The statement reads: “With about nine years as head of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde has done well. The transformation, which he took the Board through, is huge. He modernised the operations of the Board at such a dizzying pace that I used to fondly call him the “magician” in JAMB. I note that he worked with exceptional directors and I should single out Dr. Yusuf Lawal, who oversees Test Administration.

    “With the appointment of Professor Is-haq Oloyede as the new registrar, JAMB is in for a revolutionary time in terms of delivering more effectively on its mandate.

    “Professor Oloyede parades excellent credentials to lead a whole sector, such as education in Nigeria, hence asking him to head a parastatal in education is like asking a Five-star, battle-tested general to quell a fight between two area boys in Ajegunle! Professor Oloyede ran University of Ilorin as a model for the Nigerian university system and served dutifully as chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and at the continental level, as president of the Association of African Universities.

    “He is a no-nonsense, clear-headed scholar, who is globally consulted on higher education matters, including issues dealing with admitting quality students which fit in with the JAMB mandate. I am convinced that he will smoothen the rough edges of the unfortunate furore around the 2016 admission exercise.

    “On the matter of the relevance of JAMB, I am unshaken in my belief that at this time in the nation’s higher education development, JAMB is still a relevant player.

    “The important thing is for JAMB not to overstep its bounds by infringing on those areas where the universities should exercise their autonomy. Post-UTME, as originally conceived in 2004, not in its adulterated form, is still a must if we are to get better quality students for our higher education system.

    “Rather than shut the door on Post-UTME, we should scape off whatever the universities are not doing right and not throw the baby away with the bath water.”

  • Okebukola laments teachers’ poor content knowledge

    Okebukola laments teachers’ poor content knowledge

    Teachers in Nigeria need to up their skills in knowledge, pedagogic knowledge and pedagogic content knowledge, says former Executive-Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Peter Okebukola.

    Okebukola said three variables were key to achieving quality education delivery at a workshop by the Department of Science Education and Technology, Faculty of Education of the Lagos State University.

    “Current studies have shown that Nigerian teachers are very poor in the three variables, which include content knowledge, pedagogic knowledge and pedagogic content knowledge,” said Okebukola on the topic: “Teachers’ improvement workshop towards excellence in public examinations”.

    The workshop drew teachers and school managers from private and public schools in Lagos State.

    Okebukola said teachers could be blamed for shallow content Knowledge and lack of awareness of techniques for marking examination scripts by WAEC, NECO and NABTEB. He said students, the Federal Ministry of Education, examination bodies and parents, also share in the blame.

    The Professor of Science Education expressed optimism that the workshop would deepen participants’ knowledge in the three areas and also expose them to how scripts are marked.

    Acting Head of Department, Science and Technology Education, Dr Tunde Owolabi, said the workshop was designed to arrest perennial poor performance of students in core subjects.

    Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Fidelis Njokanma, who represented the Vice-chancellor, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun, drew a distinction between a teacher’s content knowledge and his ability to deliver it well to learners.

    Njokanma said that the latter was more significant as it keeps learners’ interest alive.

    “The kind of result we expect from the teachers who attend the workshop and subsequent series, is for them to be able to say, before now I was achieving 50 per cent from my students in WAEC and NECO. But now, it has climbed to 80 per cent,” he said.

  • Okebukola calls for more research

    Okebukola calls for more research

    Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof Peter Okebukola has urged universities to promote research and innovations.

    Okebukola spoke at the orientation programme for academic and non-academic staff of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo.

    He called for immediate steps to make  universities true centres of excellence in research.

    “The state of things in the country, many have said, are appalling; we need the universities to come to the rescue with innovative ideas and research,” the ex-NUC secretary said.

    A former University of Ibadan Vice Chancellor, Prof Olufemi Bamiro, identified inadequate teaching skills and research as the bane of  the nation’s universities.

    Bamiro said Nigerian universities could never attain the status of world-class institutions “until universities are able to proffer solutions to the nation’s problems”.

     “Nigerian universities must identify the challenges facing the country’s development and also provide solutions to them. By this, the dream of achieving world-class institutions’ status would become a reality,” the don said.

  • Okebukola calls for urgent action in education sector

    Okebukola calls for urgent action in education sector

    Prof. Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), says there is an urgent need to address the poor educational foundation in the country.

    Okebukola disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    According to him, there is no way the country will attain its quest for accelerated development and national transformation if the numerous challenges at the basic education level are not addressed.

    “The poor foundation in education in our country must be fixed and urgently so.

    “Not only in education, but generally, because in any development which includes physical development, if the foundation is weak, then definitely the super structure will equally be weak.

    “Basically, there must be some challenges, but It is shameful that we have these challenges at the basic, the tertiary and post tertiary levels.

    “It is high time we seek a way out of these challenges if we must compete favourably with nations in other climes,’’ he said.

    The former NUC scribe said the challenges were, to a large extent, due to the quality of teachers in the sector.

    According to him, about 45 to 55 per cent of teachers in the sector are bad.

    “Let me explain what I mean by that. What I am saying is that based on empirical data, over 60 per cent of these teachers have very shallow content knowledge.

    “They have shallow content of their English, Mathematics, Biology and in fact, everything.

    “They are so poorly prepared, and these teachers, from all our studies, are the variables that constitute the most to improving quality.

    “I want to stress that if you settle the problem of teachers, then one third of the challenges are gone,’’ he said.

    Okebukola said that revamping, re-working or reformatting teachers in the country was the way to go.

    According to him, there is also the need to tackle the issue of poor infrastructure in the schools headlong, in order to make teaching and learning more meaningful.

    He said that a lot of the primary and secondary schools, as well as universities in the country, were poorly resourced.

    “When a Biology teacher is working in an environment where there is no Biology laboratory and the school so decadent, not teacher-friendly or anybody-friendly, then education is bound to suffer.

    “So, the way to go is to ensure that things are fixed. We do not need to do everything in one day, but let it be seen that we are improving on our facilities,’’ the don said.

    Okebukola said that governments at all levels must increase their level of participation in tackling the challenges facing the various stages of education in the country.

    According to him, every arm of government should see it as its responsibility to improve the standard of education from the grassroots to the national level.

    He also identified value system as another major challenge in the sector.

    According to him, there is the need for the students, teachers and stakeholders to reflect on the value system, adding that reading culture for example, is fading away.

    “Our students today do not believe in reading. There is no diligence; they cannot face their studies, but go after cult activities, examination malpractice and other social vices.

    “We must begin to inculcate the right values in ourselves if indeed we need to excel,’’ he said