President Bola Tinubu has appointed former University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as the new chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
Ogundipe replaces Olufemi Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment. Aina was named chairman in July 2025, while the current NUC board members were inaugurated in November 2025.
The presidency said Ogundipe will be responsible for overseeing critical areas of the commission’s mandate, including university regulation, funding, academic stability, and strengthening global competitiveness within Nigeria’s higher education system.
President Tinubu noted that the appointment is aimed at improving quality, access, and integrity in the education sector, expressing confidence that Ogundipe’s leadership will further enhance the credibility of the country’s university system.
Ogundipe, a professor of botany, previously served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022. He is currently the Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State.
He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos. His academic work covers molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He is also a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology.
