President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Newsonspot reports that the appointment was announced on Monday through a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Professor Ogundipe succeeds Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment. Aina was appointed by President Tinubu in July 2025, while members of the governing board were officially inaugurated in November 2025.
A distinguished academic, Ogundipe served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022. He is a Professor of Botany with extensive expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He earned his doctorate degree in Botany from the Obafemi Awolowo University and later obtained an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Currently serving as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, the 66-year-old scholar is also a fellow of several prestigious professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology.
Over the years, Ogundipe has held several leadership positions, including President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
As Chairman of the NUC Governing Board, he will provide oversight for the commission responsible for regulating Nigeria’s university system. His responsibilities will include supporting policies that strengthen university funding, academic stability, quality assurance, and global competitiveness.
According to the Presidency, President Tinubu expects Ogundipe to provide visionary leadership that will enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s higher education sector and advance the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda through improved access, quality, and integrity in university education.
