President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He will assume leadership of the board following the resignation of Emeritus Professor Olufemi Aina, who stepped down from the position after less than one year in office.
The appointment was confirmed in a statement on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body of Nigeria’s university system, with responsibilities focused on funding, global competitiveness, and academic stability.
Professor Ogundipe is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, where he served 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 66-year-old scholar holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos. He currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology.
Ogundipe has also previously served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
President Tinubu said he expects Ogundipe to provide visionary leadership at the NUC and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s university system in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on quality, access, and integrity in higher education.