President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe as the new chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The announcement was made on Monday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Professor Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position after less than a year in office following his appointment last July and subsequent inauguration in November 2025.
The new 66-year-old NUC Chairman brings a wealthy academic and administrative background to the regulatory body, the presidential spokesperson said.
He previously served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022 and is currently the Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State. Professor Ogundipe is a professor of Botany with specialized expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation. He earned his PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and holds an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Throughout his career, Ogundipe has held notable leadership roles, including serving as the President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC). He is also a fellow of prestigious international and local professional bodies, such as the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology in London.
In his new role, Professor Ogundipe will be responsible for overseeing the regulatory functions of the Nigerian university system, with a core focus on funding, global competitiveness, and academic stability.
President Tinubu stated that he expects the new chairman to provide visionary leadership to sustain the credibility of the university system, aligning with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to advance quality, access, and integrity across the country’s education sector.