President Bola Tinubu has appointed Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), as chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy.
Ogundipe succeeds Olufemi Aina, who resigned from the position less than one year after his appointment.
Ogundipe replaces Aina
Tinubu appointed Aina as NUC board chairman in July 2025.
Subsequently, the board was inaugurated in November of the same year.
However, Aina resigned from the position before completing a year in office.
Former UNILAG VC takes over
Ogundipe served as vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022.
He is a professor of botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany and ecological conservation.
The academic holds a PhD in Botany from the Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Currently, he serves as pro-chancellor of Redeemer’s University.
Fellow of several professional bodies
Furthermore, Ogundipe is a fellow of several professional organisations.
These include the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London and the Royal Society of Biology.
He also previously served as president of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.
Tinubu outlines mandate
According to the presidency, Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body responsible for Nigeria’s university system.
His responsibilities will include promoting academic stability, improving university funding and enhancing global competitiveness.
“President Tinubu expects Ogundipe to provide visionary leadership at the NUC and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system,” the statement reads.
The presidency added that the appointment aligns with the administration’s efforts to improve quality, access and integrity in the education sector.
