AAU Appoints Nigeria’s Peter Okebukola As West African Ambassador

The Association of African Universities AAU has appointed Nigeria’s Professor Emeritus, Peter Okebukola as Higher Education Ambassador for West Africa.

Announcing the recognition in Windhoek  Namiba, during the 22nd Conference of Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Presidents of  universities, the Secretary General of the AAU, Professor Olushola Oyewole, said the appointment of the Professor Emeritus Okebukola was due to his exceptional support and unwavering commitment to the advancement of higher education in Africa .

Professor Oyewole stated that the award recipient, Professor Okebukola has championed the cause of Africa Higher Education as he is further advocating increased access, quality and relevance.

New Challenge 

Speaking on the recognition, Professor Emeritus Okebukola said that the appointment was a new challenge to him to improve service on all aspects of higher education which includes access, quality, equity and the rest on the Sub continent of West Africa.

According to him, Nigeria’s redesigned higher education curriculum as projected far in to the future and has taken cognisance of the task of universities in Africa .

According to the AAU Ambassador, the new curriculum in Nigeria universities speaks to their natural environment and addresses challenges of the local, regional and global challenges.

He says, “The universities in Nigeria are well aware of higher education in this context we have taken cognisance of the local context of the regional and global context and the curriculum is dynamic in another five years again it will become obsolete “

The 17 disciplines of Nigeria university system are on firm ground to ensure that the graduate from Nigeria universities are not only relevant nationally but globally competitive.

Others appointed are Professor Olugbemiro Jegede who was also recognized for promoting the mission and vision of the AAU, Professor Olugbemiro was appointed as AAU Ambassador for open and distance learning.

Others are the Vice Chancellor of the University of Namibia, Professor Kenneth Matengu recognized as AAU Ambassador for Southern Africa, Professor El-Meteini Mahmoud, AAU Ambassador for North Africa..

Earlier, the President of the AAU, Professor Saeed Bakri Osman told the 22nd Conference of Rectors, Vice chancellors and Presidents of African Universities that the meeting specifically focuses on excellence and successful initiatives as well as outcomes in Africa Higher Education.

Bakri added that the COREVIP 2023 will highlight key enabling elements with the sub themes of university industry linkage, funding and financing amongst others

Confidence Okwuchi