By our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The appointment was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Professor Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment. Professor Aina was appointed by President Tinubu in July 2025, while members of the NUC governing board were inaugurated in November of the same year.
A distinguished academic and administrator, Professor Ogundipe served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022. He is a Professor of Botany with extensive expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany and ecological conservation.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Botany from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Lagos.
Currently serving as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, the 66-year-old scholar is a fellow of several prestigious professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London and the Royal Society of Biology, London.
Professor Ogundipe has also held notable leadership positions within the academic community, including serving as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
As Chairman of the NUC Governing Board, he is expected to provide strategic oversight for Nigeria’s university system, with a focus on improving funding, enhancing global competitiveness and ensuring academic stability across tertiary institutions.
President Tinubu expressed confidence in Professor Ogundipe’s ability to provide visionary leadership for the Commission and sustain the credibility of Nigeria’s university system.
According to the Presidency, the appointment aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is aimed at advancing quality, access and integrity in the nation’s education sector while strengthening higher education governance and development.
