In a strategic move to bolster the integrity and regulatory efficiency of the Nigerian university system, President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission. Professor Ogundipe, a distinguished botanist and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.
The official announcement was made on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The Presidency stated that this appointment is aimed at advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector. Professor Ogundipe is tasked with overseeing the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, with a specific focus on funding, global competitiveness, and academic stability. President Tinubu expects the new chairman to provide visionary leadership and sustain the credibility of the university system in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Professor Ogundipe, who led the University of Lagos as Vice-Chancellor from 2017 to 2022, holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos. A specialist in molecular plant taxonomy, ethnobotany, and ecological conservation, the 66-year-old academic currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science and the Royal Society of Biology, and has previously served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria as well as Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.
