CSO writes Buhari, seeks removal of Okebukola as NOUN pro-chancellor

A civil society organisation has called for the removal Peter Okebukola as pro-chancellor and governing council chairman of the National Open University (NOUN).

In a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari, the organisation, Youth Global Vision for Peace In Africa, accused Okebukola of age falsification.

There were allegations that the professor presented three different dates of births to his primary employer, the University of Lagos.

The organisation in the petition dated November 26, 2020, and signed by Prince Olatunji, its national president, Abdulmajeed Saad, national coordinator and Richard Okeita, national secretary, called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and other National Electoral Commission, ICPC, to investigate the allegation.

”We want to bring it to your notice that Professor Peter Okebukola, who serves as Pro Chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), is facing serious allegation of age falsification,” the petition read.

“Last year, a newspaper published a two-part story, with detailed documentary evidence showing how the professor presented three different dates of births to his primary employer, the University of Lagos, at various times.

”To our surprise, Professor Okebukola did not come out to defend himself or take any action to redress (in case of perceived damage) for the widely circulated publication. This is despite the enormity of the allegations and in view of the important positions he has held and holding presently, including as the Pro Chancellor of NOUN. This, by all intent and purposes, is a subtle admission of guilt on the part of Prof. Okebukola.

”You will agree with us, Your Excellency Sir, that an issue like this, which touch on our education, values and upbringing of the upcoming generation is too important to be swept under the carpet or be toyed with. Those who superintend our education systems should be persons with impeccable conduct and character, in order to supervise a system that equally uphold those values and impact them on the younger ones.”

The group called on the federal government to call for an investigation into this lingering scandal that is being covered up, in view of Professor Okebukola’s public standing and the Federal appointment he currently holds.