President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of former University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The appointment was announced on Monday in a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga. Ogundipe replaces Olufemi Aina, who stepped down less than a year after assuming office.
Aina was appointed in July 2025, while members of the NUC board were inaugurated in November 2025.
According to the presidency, the new chairman will oversee key areas including university regulation, funding, academic stability, and efforts to improve the global competitiveness of Nigeria’s higher education system.
President Tinubu said the appointment is part of his administration’s push to strengthen quality, access, and integrity in the education sector, expressing confidence that Ogundipe will provide strong leadership and help reinforce the credibility of the nation’s university system.
Ogundipe, a professor of botany, served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022. He currently holds the position of Pro-Chancellor at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
The 66-year-old earned a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and also holds an MBA from the University of Lagos. His academic interests span molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology.
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