President Bola Tinubu has appointed the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Ogundipe takes over from Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his position less than one year into his term.
The announcement was confirmed in a statement released on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The Presidency stated, “Professor Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.”
As the head of the regulatory body for the Nigerian university system, Ogundipe is tasked with prioritizing academic stability, funding, and global competitiveness.
The Presidency noted, “The appointment is aimed at advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.”
Furthermore, “President Tinubu expects Professor Ogundipe to provide visionary leadership at the National Universities Commission and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Professor Ogundipe, an expert in Botany, led the University of Lagos as Vice-Chancellor from 2017 to 2022. He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.
His extensive academic background includes specializations in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
Currently serving as the Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, the 66-year-old academic is a distinguished fellow of several professional organizations, including the Royal Society of Biology, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Nigerian Academy of Science.
Throughout his career, he has also held leadership roles as the Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council and President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria.
