He noted that quick-fix interventions had become imperative to protect the future of the university system.
Okebukola said his concern was based on a gap analysis conducted over the last two months by a group of scholars.
Okebukola said this on Tuesday while delivering a 2023 convocation lecture at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.
The NUC’s former executive secretary spoke on “From Tangible to Virtual Reality: Redefining the Nigerian University System.”
According to Okebukola, while the past and present were tangible, the future was virtual reality.
He said that what strengthening basic education means is getting all the out-of-school children into school.
He stressed that the only way to improve access to universities is by improving primary and secondary school systems.
He asked “of what use are weak, very weak primary and secondary school products for our universities?
“If the foundation of Nigeria’s education system was strengthened through better quality primary and secondary schools, many of the quality challenges now being faced at the university level would cease to be.”
He praised the President/Vice Chancellor, Professor Ademola Tayo, and his management team for the progress the university was making.
He said “In physical development, academic development, quality of staff, and quality of graduates, this university has made stunning progress.
“Professor Tayo has been outstanding; he is likened to still water that runs deep in the horizon of quality university education. He is not a noise-making vice chancellor but a performing vice chancellor”
On the university, he said that the data NUC shared with him before coming “confirm that Babcock is easily in the top-tier of the 263 universities we have in Nigeria today.
“Tangibly, you are the best. Virtually, you are the best. You are currently running 37 undergraduate programmes and none, absolutely none has NUC denied accreditation. Only one is in interim status making your score 97.3 %. This is laudable”, he said.
Earlier, Prof. Tayo described Okebukola as one of the finest intelligentsia Nigeria is blessed to have.
“Every nation has a message to deliver. Nigeria has a message and mission. Together we can figure out how to assist our country to be greater,” Tayo said.
