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NUC�s rising
profile
In Nigeria of today, it is often assumed that those
praising people in position of authority or power have their eyes on favours or
had received same from those being showered encomiums. This may well be true.
But often such praises come from people that obviously stand to gain nothing
materially, or otherwise, that it can be safely concluded that such praises are
sincere and a true reflection of deserved accolade.
Such is the case in recent praise galore showered on Professor Peter
Akinsola Okebukola, the executive secretary, National Universities Commission,
NUC. The first African to win the prestigious UNESCO prize for the
communication of science, Okebukola�s appointment came at a time when the
Nigerian University system was in terrible shape. Academic activities were
suffering unbridled devastations and academic calendars were visibly distorted
due to persistent strikes by academic and non-academic staff alike.
The deteriorated situation even compelled several lecturers and other
research fellows to flee the country for greener pastures abroad. This was
compounded by incessant mayhem unleashed by student cultists on their fellow
students and even lecturers. The net effect was that academic standards were no
longer met by input from teachers and students. But no sooner did he settle
down as the new NUC executive secretary than things started taking a positive
shape. And he accomplished seemingly impossible feats with ease and a
profundity that has endeared him to most of his erstwhile critics and a section
of the critical press.
Consequently, within a short space of two years, the NUC management
under Okebukola�s responsive and responsible leadership, breathed a new lease
of life into the nation�s decrepit university system, and broke new frontiers in
university education especially in such hitherto neglected areas as curriculum
development, administration, funding, efficiency and quality assurance. Agreed
that the rot in our university system had been there for more than 20 years.
But we all know that it is nearly impossible to rebuild such ravages within
such a short period.
Yet, Professor Okebukola will go down in history as the young man who
demonstrated raw courage and patriotism in ensuring an enduring reform of our
decadent university system. Now, incessant strikes have nearly become a thing
of the past. Students who couldn�t graduate for onwards of six to eight years
can now heave a sigh of relief. And annual grant to the universities has jumped
from N8bn on assumption of office to N30bn in his tenure. Even while he is
still not satisfied with his modest achievements, it is morning yet on creation
day.
Raymond Obuseh,
Lagos State University,
Ojo, Lagos.
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