Varsity Don Tasks Scholars On Global Issues

A  former  Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, last Thursday emphasised the need for scholars in Nigerian universities to tackle global problems in the course of their researches.

  Okebukola made the submission at a three-day conference of the 2011 Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities held in Ota, Ogun.

He delivered a lecture entitled “Nigerian Universities and World Rankings; Issues, Strategies and Forward Planning’’.

He said that intellectually able frontline researchers aborted research and development as soon as they become professors.

This, he said, had over the years contributed to the slow rate of research in most Nigerian universities.

“Rather than chase the post of vice chancellor, director-general and executive secretaries or minister, the vice chancellors should encourage their staff to focus and think of global but nationally-relevant problems funded by the universities, NUC or ETF.

“Global warming is big news at the moment, so solving climate change or the forthcoming energy crisis should score points toward winning the Nobel Prize,” he said.

He said that it was worrisome that no staff in the Nigerian university system was in the running for the Nobel Prize, adding that potential laureates were rather saddled with administrative chores.

“Many Nobel Prizes are won by addressing problems facing the entire human race rather than a subset of humanity.

“Incurable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, coupled with cancer are always a popular areas to look at as they attract the attention of Nobel nominators,” Okebukola said.

The former NUC scribe decried the little or none existing facilities in place in the system to serve as supportive role for research to earn such prizes.

The don also emphasised the need for universities to undertake a talent hunt for top rate scholars who were on the starting line of the long road to winning a Nobel Prize through active and sustained research.

“Winners of NUC doctoral thesis awards in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and economics, can be part of the stock.

“In doing this, we should also provide laboratories and work environment for scholars in the special talent pool to support research and travels, as well as provide incentives for ground-breaking works,” he said.

Okebukola said that it was only by taking such step and many more, that the university system in the country could earn high scores on the quality of faculty indicator by way of ranking as well as improved staff ranking.