President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Ogundipe takes over from Emeritus Professor Olufemi Aina, who was appointed to the position by President Tinubu in July 2025 but stepped down less than a year later.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the appointment forms part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s higher education sector through improved governance, enhanced funding, global competitiveness and academic stability.
“The appointment is aimed at advancing quality, access and integrity in the education sector,” the statement said.
President Tinubu expressed confidence in Ogundipe’s ability to provide visionary leadership for the nation’s university regulatory agency and further consolidate the credibility and effectiveness of Nigeria’s university system in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
A distinguished academic and renowned botanist, Ogundipe served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022, during which he oversaw several reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening academic excellence and institutional development.
His areas of expertise include molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany and ecological conservation.
Ogundipe holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos.
The 66-year-old academic currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, and is a fellow of several prestigious professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnean Society of London and the Royal Society of Biology.
Over the course of his distinguished career, he has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.
His appointment is expected to bring extensive academic, administrative and policy experience to the National Universities Commission as it continues efforts to improve the quality and global ranking of Nigerian universities.
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