Prof. Peter Okebukola, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), on Thursday called for a drastic increase in research and development funding for Nigerian universities.
Okebukola made the call in Malete while delivering the 13th Kwara State University (KWASU) Convocation Lecture titled “Universities in the Age of Quantum Thinking: Redefining Quality, Relevance and Innovation through Emerging Technologies.”
He said Nigeria invests approximately 0.2 per cent of its GDP in research—far below the African average of 0.5 per cent and significantly lower than global research leaders who invest between 3 and 4 per cent.
Okebukola noted that the linear, compartmentalized and predictable model of university education that served the 20th century could not meet the demands of the 21st century.
The Emeritus Professor of Science and Computer Education said Nigeria needed universities that could operate both globally and locally, with strong research focus, community engagement, technological capability and grounded academic frameworks.
“Recognizing the brain drain challenge facing Nigerian universities, the government should create competitive research fellowship programmes that make it financially attractive for our best minds to build careers here rather than emigrating.
“Government should also establish tax incentives for private sector organizations that fund university research or establish research chairs in emerging technology areas.
“Also, government should mandate that a certain percentage of all procurement contracts include capacity-building components involving Nigerian universities, to build local expertise rather than relying on foreign knowledge,” he said.
Okebukola further advised the NUC, with support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to establish a National Quantum and AI Education Fund that would provide competitive grants to universities committed to these fields.
“NUC should request that all universities develop and implement AI ethics frameworks before deploying AI tools for admissions, assessment or student services, ensuring that algorithmic bias does not perpetuate existing inequalities,” he added.
The convocation lecturer urged KWASU to establish a Quantum Future Institute to serve as an interdisciplinary hub for exploring emerging technologies and their applications.
He also recommended that the university form formal partnerships with at least three international universities that are leaders in quantum computing and AI education. Such collaborations, he said, would support staff exchanges, joint research and curriculum development.
“KWASU should develop a comprehensive AI literacy programme to ensure that every graduate, regardless of discipline, possesses a basic understanding of AI—its capabilities, limitations and ethical implications.
“For students and staff, we need a mindset shift from passive knowledge consumption to active knowledge creation, and a willingness to explore multiple knowledge domains simultaneously to make unexpected connections across fields,” Okebukola said.
He commended the institution’s management for consolidating KWASU’s identity as a research-active university and strengthening its commitment to academic excellence, infrastructure development and global visibility.
In his remarks, the KWASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Lukman, said the lecture topic was timely, noting that technology remained the biggest force shaping the modern world.
Shaykh-Lukman added that the university valued collaborations that add meaningful impact and prioritized transformative ideas and innovations that contribute to societal development.
The Chairman of the convocation lecture, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, said KWASU was ready to rise to the quantum challenges set forth by Okebukola.
