Ex-NUC Boss Peter Okebukola Unveils New Model-And-Surpass Pedagogy for STEM Education

Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, a leading figure in Nigerian education, has introduced a groundbreaking new teaching methodology aimed at revitalizing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education across Africa. The new approach, christened the “Model-And-Surpass Pedagogy” (MSP), was officially launched at a global conference that concluded on September 18, 2025.

According to a statement issued on Sunday, the MSP is a seven-step, student-centered framework that seeks to address the persistent lackluster performance of African students in STEM fields. Okebukola, a recipient of the 1992 UNESCO Prize for the Communication and Popularisation of Science, developed the pedagogy with the belief that a mismatch exists between Western teaching methods and the African socio-cultural context. He argued that African researchers often “gleefully deploy these ‘oyibo’ [foreign] methods and fail to look inwards to innovate in developing and researching socio-culturally relevant approaches.”

The core of the MSP involves students modeling their work and mindset after great scientists, with a clear directive to ultimately surpass them. The seven-step process begins with the teacher selecting two scientists—one of whom must be an African—for students to research. Students then compare and contrast the scientists’ trials and triumphs, adopt their positive attributes, and engage in practical, interactive lessons presented through the lens of these role models. The pedagogy encourages experiments and culminates with students reflecting on how they intend to model and surpass the scientists in their own work.

The unveiling ceremony saw the attendance of participants from nine countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Burundi, Ghana, Finland, Nigeria, The Gambia, Mauritius, and Sierra Leone. Following the launch, a team of researchers from the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education at Lagos State University has already begun testing the new method. Okebukola noted that this research is designed to ensure the MSP contributes to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a more prosperous and innovative Africa. “The days of Africa playing second fiddle in STEM enterprise will soon be over,” he declared, emphasizing his commitment to developing homegrown, AI-driven teaching approaches in the years to come.