ABUJA: President Bola Tinubu has appointed former University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as the new Chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC), entrusting the seasoned academic with the responsibility of steering Nigeria’s university regulatory body.
Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Aina, who stepped down from the position less than a year after his appointment.
A statement issued on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the appointment and highlighted the new chairman’s extensive experience in academia and university administration.
Professor Ogundipe, 66, is a renowned botanist and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, where he served between 2017 and 2022. He is currently the Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
His areas of expertise include molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany and ecological conservation.
He holds a doctorate degree in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Lagos.
Beyond academia, Ogundipe 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.
He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and chaired the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
According to the Presidency, Professor Ogundipe is expected to provide visionary leadership for the National Universities Commission and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s university system.
As chairman of the NUC governing board, he will oversee policies aimed at improving university funding, boosting academic standards, enhancing global competitiveness and ensuring stability within the tertiary education sector.
The appointment is also in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places emphasis on expanding access to quality education and preserving integrity in the nation’s higher institutions.
Professor Olufemi Aina was appointed chairman of the NUC board in July 2025, while members of the board were inaugurated in November of the same year.
However, the emeritus professor resigned from the position before completing one year in office, paving the way for Ogundipe’s emergence.
With decades of experience in university administration and scientific research, observers believe the former UNILAG vice-chancellor faces the critical task of addressing funding challenges, improving academic standards and strengthening Nigeria’s higher education system amid growing global competition.
