Ex-NUC boss unveils new STEM education method

A former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof Peter Okebukola, has launched another method for delivering quali...

A former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof Peter Okebukola, has launched another method for delivering quality Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education.

The new approach, the “Model-And-Surpass Pedagogy was officially unveiled at the 2025 international conference of the International Research Group, co-hosted by the Commonwealth Association of Science, Technology and Mathematics Educators, which ended on September 18, according to a statement issued on Sunday.

At the ceremony were participants from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Burundi, Ghana, Finland, Nigeria, The Gambia, Mauritius and Sierra Leone.

The Okebukola’s MSP has seven steps, with teachers and students playing their roles for the successful implementation of the new STEM education.

Okebukola said, “One should be an African. At least two days before the lesson, students are asked to find out a brief history of the two scientists, highlighting their trials and triumphs and attitudes worth emulating and surpassing. At the beginning of the lesson, the teacher asks students in groups (as convenient) to compare and contrast the two scientists.

“Groups report their conclusions on the two scientists; Each student should note the attributes of the two scientists he/she wishes to model and surpass; Teacher introduces the topic of the lesson and presents it as much as possible, through the lens of the two great scientists; As the lesson progresses, students are engaged by the teacher in interactive discussion on the topic in line with the lesson objectives and content.

“Practical activities should be encouraged through experiments. Students are to share their thoughts on how they intend to model and surpass the scientists in relation to the topic. The teacher makes notes on the board during the lesson, and the Lesson closes with a summary, short evaluation questions and a request for students to submit their notes before the next class on the content learned/experiments in relation to what they modelled and wished to surpass in the two scientists.

Speaking about the next steps, Okebukola noted, “Work has started in earnest to test MSP. A team of researchers from four African countries (Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia and Sierra Leone) from the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education of Lagos State University are initiating a series of studies to test the efficacy of the pedagogy.

According to him, “the goal is to ensure that MSP contributes to the attainment of the African Union’s Agenda 2063- The Africa We Want. The days of Africa playing second fiddle in STEM enterprise will soon be over.”

He added, “This is not the last bus stop in our quest for homegrown methods of teaching. As the founder of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners, I am leading a team of researchers, including Dr Adekunle Ibrahim Oladejo, Dr Franklin Onowugbeda, Dr Olasunkanmi Gbeleyi, Dr Deborah Agbanimu and Dr Esther Peter ,to work with Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede (President of NAAIP) to develop a teaching approach that rests on an AI framework.

“This will immerse the use of AI within the African socio-cultural context. I assure you, the coming years will be exciting for Nigerian, indeed African students and teachers at all levels.”

He said the lacklustre performance of our students in STEM can be attributed to a mismatch.

Okebulola stated, "My reason for creating science teaching methods, which led to my 1992 UNESCO Prize, stems from the abundance of teaching approaches created by non-Africans that are unsuitable for the African cultural environment."

“The impression is always given that the method must be developed by the West to be right. Our researchers gleefully deploy these ‘oyibo’ methods and fail to look inwards to innovate in developing and researching socio-culturally relevant approaches to teaching.

My primary aim is to boost student success and foster a more positive outlook on STEM subjects.

Keynote addresses delivered at the conference were by Prof Jomo Mutegi of Old Dominion University, Virginia, US; Prof Pascal Doh of the University of Turku, Finland; Prof Uchenna Maristella Nzewi of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Prof Shari Watkins of The American University, Washington, DC.

Fellowship Awards were given to Dr Sue Dale Tunnicliffe, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of CASTME; Prof Juma Shabani of the University of Burundi; Prof Ibiyinka Ogunlade of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti; and Prof Emeritus Peter A. Okebukola of Lagos State University.

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