Tinubu Appoints Ex-UNILAG VC As NUC Chairman

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC), a move aimed at strengthening leadership within Nigeria’s higher education regulatory body.

The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Professor Ogundipe takes over from Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who stepped down from the position less than a year after his appointment. Professor Aina was named chairman in July 2025, while members of the board were formally inaugurated in November of the same year.

A distinguished academic and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Ogundipe served as the institution’s chief executive between 2017 and 2022. Renowned for his contributions to Botany, his areas of specialization include molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.

The 66-year-old scholar earned his doctorate degree in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Lagos. He currently serves as the Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State.

Professor Ogundipe is a fellow of several prestigious professional organizations, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology in London. Over the years, he has held key leadership positions, including President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.

In his new role, he is expected to provide strategic direction for the NUC as it continues to oversee the development of Nigeria’s university system, with emphasis on funding, academic excellence, institutional stability, and global competitiveness.

The presidency expressed confidence in Professor Ogundipe’s capacity to advance quality education, broaden access, and uphold the integrity of the university system in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.