Professor Peter Okebukola, former executive secretary, National Universities Commission in this interview with ADEOLA BALOGUN shares his experiences
You came out of secondary school as the best graduating student, was it books, books and books for you?
Yes in part. Doing well in school is a function of a number of factors. Ability is one. Diligence is another. God’s grace is the overarching knot tying all together. Examples are replete of students who read and read and read, yet they flunk exams. Yet some others do not read as much and they end up top of the class. In my case, I believe all the factors converged in my favour. Yes, I was a bookworm hence I was made the library prefect in all the secondary schools I attended. I also never failed to keep God in the picture.
How did it feel to become a school teacher at 19?
It felt good as I was assigned to teach more serious students than we have today. I was about six years older than the average student in my class and having grown up in the barracks, I was stern, took no nonsense, yet convivial. I had my first taste of teaching at Holy Saviour’s College, Mushin from 1969 to 1970 after my higher school certificate. We had a year to keep busy before admission to the university by direct entry. My passion to share knowledge with people around me was the propellant for making me like teaching. Although I was a science teacher, I was assigned to teach all manner of subjects including history, geography, economics and literature. My students and I had fun in these classes. My horizon of knowledge of other subjects was expanded since I had to read outside my comfort zone.
Would you say teaching was what you loved doing as a young man?
I took a liking to teaching when I taught my first class in December 1969 and saw the glow and excitement on the faces of my students. Long before this time, my passion ranged widely from being a train driver to medicine and geology. You know as kids, you wished you were everything but God knows the end from the beginning and has His own beautiful plan for everyone. The beautiful plan of God for me is to be a teacher.
How fulfilled were you as a school teacher in terms of remuneration and incentives?
I earned £19.10 as an HSC teacher at Holy Saviour’s College, Mushin, Lagos. It was more than enough for me as I was living with my parents. After graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1973 and completed NYSC in 1974 (we were the first set and very decently remunerated), I was employed as Education Officer in the Federal Ministry of Education. The pay was quite good and the incentives of a car and some housing grant were attractive. When the trajectory landed me as lecturer in a college of education and then a university, I was quite satisfied with my earning. I have always kept my needs to be few and will not “long throat” for things beyond my earning power. So as a teacher, I have received some of my rewards on earth.
What made you to cross over from being a school teacher to first lecturer at a college of education and then in the university?
I had acquired higher degrees and I had to move on to where my degrees match the demand of the job. Since entering the University of Ibadan, I promised my father that I would strive, God helping me, to get the highest degree I could obtain in my discipline. My desire to undertake higher degree studies from 1974 could not be realised until 1978 because I was pinned down in Ekiti trying to win students for science. I was head of the science department at the C.A.C. Teachers’ College, Efon-Alaye and at the same time, concurrently teaching science to final year classes in far-flung locations in the present Ekiti State. I taught Physics in Moba Grammar School, Otun; Biology at Aramoko District Commercial College; and Chemistry at Okemesi Grammar School. For four years, it was never a dull moment and I am delighted that many of my former students rose to great heights in science-related careers. The constant prodding of two of my colleagues encouraged me to face the higher degree track quicker than I did. Mr. Teniola of C.A.C. Teachers College never stopped urging me to go for my master’s degree. Professor Ayo Fatubarin was a huge pillar of support and stimulant for me to take the doctorate degree.
When you were teaching, did you ever think you could become a professor?
Of course, that was my goal. Remember I told you that I promised my father that I will be the best I can be in my profession, God helping me. By the way, who will not want to aspire to get to the zenith of his profession? In my case as a teacher, it is being a professor.
What would you say accounted for your rapid rise from being a lecturer to an acting VC in a relatively short time?
Promotion does not come from east or west but from God. So the straightforward answer to your question is that God accounted for it. I did my best in terms of hard work as a researcher and teacher and God crowned my efforts with success. God used Professor Pai Obanya who was Dean of Education and Professor ‘Folabi Olumide who was Vice-Chancellor for my appointment in LASU as senior lecturer in 1984. I went through the ranks as head of department, dean of faculty and when Professor Enitan Bababunmi became Vice-Chancellor, he nominated me Deputy Vice-Chancellor. When he left office in 1996, I was appointed by Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was military administrator of Lagos State as Acting Vice-Chancellor.
Why were you not confirmed as VC in LASU?
I did not apply for the post.
Did you encounter the unusual politics that is associated with selection of VCs?
The politics I encountered was not unusual. Although I did not apply for the job as I mentioned to you earlier, I was part of the process which featured the same rhythm of ethnicity and mudslinging especially by the indigenous staff leading as you have in many universities, an outsider snatching the job.
How did you feel when you were appointed the executive secretary of the NUC?
I felt it was a call to national duty when Professor Babalola Borishade as honourable Minister of Education who I never met before, recommended me in spite of huge lobby for the post and President Obasanjo approved. Before I came into office, I had fair familiarity with the inner working of NUC and the challenges of the Nigerian university system. I felt it was time that I contributed my quota to ridding the system of some of its ills.
What would you point out as your most outstanding achievements at NUC?
Trumpet blowing is not my forte and hence I will desist from making claims to any achievement. My colleagues in NUC and in the Nigerian university system are better placed to assess my stewardship. It is often the case that trumpet blowing is a sign of inferiority complex. Let others blow the trumpet if there is anything you have done that is worth announcing to the world. If you just must extract something from me and will want me to blow the trumpet in a low tone, I will say that NUC while I was there succeeded in sharpening the teeth of the quality assurance apparatus of the commission. We also expanded the international horizon of our outreach.
Was it easy to superintend over quality assurance of the nation’s universities during your six-year term at NUC? Tell us your experience
It was not easy since people will want to continue in their old ways by obeying Newton’s first law of motion. You need harsh forces to steer them away from unacceptable ways. Still within the non-boastful framework, I claim no singular accomplishment. It was a corporate achievement. NUC was unbending in its drive to instil quality into the Nigerian university system. We chased out satellite campuses and invigorated the accreditation process. A lot of the credit can be ascribed to the leadership of Alhaji Maitama Sule as Board Chairman and with personalities like Professor Tekena Tamumo, Professor Cyril Onwumechili, Her Excellency, Mrs Victoria Gowon, and other board members as well as Mrs. Ayimonche. In my judgement, NUC had the most dedicated and qualified staff in the federal civil service.
Looking at the various universities in Nigeria today, would you say the NUC has achieved much in setting the standards?
Yes, NUC has done creditably. In 50 years, the commission has set enviable standards for the university system and taken steps to enforce these standards. A world without NUC in Nigeria will be utter chaos for the Nigerian university system.
If you were asked to go back to NUC now, what would you do differently?
I will not go back because I have not forgotten anything in the office that I want to go back to pick. Talking seriously, it is for us to advise our successors in office and pray for them. One day is different from the next, so leadership has to be context dependent. The environment of the Nigerian university system while I was in office is different from when Professor Okojie is in office and when he leaves office, the situation to be faced by his successor will also be different. The critical needs of a typical Nigerian university today are mainly quality teachers in the right quantity and facilities befitting of a modern university. As you would have noticed, these are issues that are currently being addressed by the Okojie administration. When he leaves office, there could be other emerging needs which the person who has taken over will have to face squarely.
How come you are linked with many newly established universities?
It is quite exciting for me to be connected with new universities and be part of their early beginning and formative years. I am linked with them as the proprietors would want me to share my little experience in bringing up the new institutions. The analogy of nurturing a baby to fit in with your anticipated mould is apt. The new baby is amenable to being moulded along the path that will allow you realise your vision and mission.
As someone involved with its establishment, what accounted for the way UNIOSUN began as a high fee paying university just as a private institution?
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola wanted a world-class university for Osun State and he charged us with the responsibility of setting one up. He will not want to be associated with any second-grade university hence he gave us the resources to put up state-of-the art facilities and recruit excellent quality staff. He gave us free hand to run the university. We were torn between charging lesser fees and ending up with the same run-of-the-mill graduates as many public universities or charging higher than other state universities and guaranteeing quality delivery of university education. We settled for the latter and have no regrets. Quality does not come cheap. We stressed that if the state was willing to take up the full financial responsibility for all students in the university, it must be prepared to give us the money. As you know, Osun State cannot afford to give us all the money that we need in the face of other competing demands for basic education, health care, roads, water, transport and other needs of the good people of the state. We were able to get the Oyinlola administration to pay all staff salaries and running cost. All local governments in Osun State supported with monthly grant for capital development. The balance had to be paid by somebody, in this case the students. We are proud of Governor Oyinlola for giving us the latitude and proud of the UNIOSUN that we delivered to the people of Osun State.
Will it be correct to say that your relationship with Oyinlola accounted for your invitation for UNIOSUN when he was governor in Osun?
That is correct. I cherish the relationship and will forever treasure it. He is a man of great vision with immense fear of God. Though an army General, he is a perfect gentleman whose words are his bond. He is thoroughly misunderstood by many who are not close to him.
What is the magic of your youthful looks?
I am not too sure I am looking youthful. I will be 63 years old on February 17, 2014 and I think I am looking my age. However, if you say I am looking young since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I will give all the glory to God.
Have you always been religious even as a young man?
Yes I have. I was born into The Apostolic Church. My parents were ministers of the church and I was thoroughly soaked into the worship and doctrines and served well in the choir. I went to catholic primary and secondary schools and also got deep grounding in Catholicism. Rev Father Stephens, the principal of my school in Sapele, saw in me traits of being a good reverend father and I was listed to go to the seminary in Ireland. The civil war thwarted the plan. Since 1975, I have been in The Apostolic Faith fold, enjoying the sound doctrines and I have continued to see the goodness of the Lord.
In your university days, were you active in extra curricular activities?
At the University of Ibadan, we had a rather crowded time-table for my programme freeing us with little time for non-academic things. I could only squeeze time to be a member of the Student Representative Council, representing Independence Hall.
How was UI when you were there as an undergraduate?
I was in UI as an undergraduate between 1970 and 1973. Those were glorious days in terms of quality of education and student life. UI was a truly international university drawing staff from all over the world. Laboratories, libraries and classrooms compared favourably with such facilities in universities in Europe and North America. Class sizes were small and social vices hardly recorded. Our halls of residence were like 3-star hotels and we were treated like kings and queens. There were no interruptions to the academic calendar. A few weeks after the session was over, parents and students got copies of examination results. Those were memorable years.
Years after graduation, what can you say about UI and Nigeria’s university education system in general?
About 1980, the quality of education in the Nigerian university system with UI as a key element, started taking a plunge for the worse. Facilities got dilapidated. Over-enrolment exerted its toll, academic calendar became unstable, cultism and other social vices crept in so also is the depressed quality and quantity of teachers. In the last twelve years through the quality assurance efforts of NUC and other stakeholders, things have started improving. The rate of improvement is rather slow. I wish the pace will quicken.
As a young man, what would you regard as your weakness: drinking, womanising or smoking?
I was never into drinking, smoking or womanising as a young man even when we had unhindered liberty in the university. My Christian upbringing was inhibitory to such practices. What I may regard as my weakness, if it can be labelled as such, is reading too much. I could bury myself in my room for days reading novels, my science books and books on a wide range of subjects. Most times, I was not hungry for food but hungry for books.
Are you actually retired in the real sense of it?
No, I am not retired. I am still on active duty as a staff of Lagos State University where I teach in the Department of Science and Technology Education. I am proud to be a staff of LASU and happy about the quality of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. I now teach mainly postgraduate courses and supervise Masters and PhD in three areas- computer science education, science education and environmental education. I am also part of facilitating the LASU Science and Technology Education Research Group which is gradually evolving to a world-renowned research outfit.
You said you are proud of LASU but a former VC once reportedly berated quality of education at the institution
Yes, at some point, we had issues with the quality of education delivered in the satellite campuses. The main campuses at Ojo, Ikeja and Epe were quite outstanding. Now that LASU has heeded the directive of NUC to close the satellite campuses, we have started getting the old glory back.
What would you regard as your happiest day in life?
Happiest day in my life was when I received the gift of salvation. I also recall another happy day when God saved me from the jaws of death during the Civil War. I lost my parents towards the close of 1999. I regret their not being part of my later success stories which were the dividends of their prayers. May their souls continue to rest in perfect peace.
Now that Osun State has cut the fees in UNIOSUN, how do you feel about it?
I feel pleased in the understanding that someone is making up the difference. I would imagine that this will be the state government.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com