Admin I Monday, june 22, 2026
ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The announcement was made on Monday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Professor Ogundipe, 66, succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position after less than a year in office. Professor Aina had been appointed by President Tinubu in July last year, with the board subsequently inaugurated in November 2025.
Ogundipe brings wealth of administrative and academic experience to the regulatory body. He famously served as the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG between 2017 and 2022. A Professor of Botany, his academic expertise spans molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos. Currently, Ogundipe serves as the Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State.
His international and domestic academic standing is underscored by fellowships with several prestigious bodies, including:
The Royal Society of Biology, London
The Nigerian Academy of Science
He is also a past President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and formerly chaired the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
In his new role, Professor Ogundipe will lead the NUC governing board in overseeing the regulation of the Nigerian university system.
His immediate focus will center on addressing funding challenges, improving global competitiveness, and ensuring academic stability across the nation’s higher education institutions.
According to the presidency, President Tinubu expects the newly appointed chairman to deliver “visionary leadership” to sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system.
The appointment aligns with the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, which aims to advance quality, access, and integrity across Nigeria’s education sector.
