President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position after less than one year in office. President Tinubu had appointed Aina in July last year, while members of the board were inaugurated in November 2025.
Ogundipe, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (2017–2022), is a professor of Botany with extensive expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany and ecological conservation.
He obtained a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and later earned an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Currently 66 years old, Ogundipe serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology in London. He has also held leadership positions such as 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, Ogundipe is expected to oversee Nigeria’s university regulatory framework, with responsibilities covering funding oversight, academic stability and global competitiveness of tertiary institutions.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the new appointee would provide visionary leadership and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s university system.
The appointment, according to the presidency, aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises improved quality, expanded access and strengthened integrity within the education sector.
The National Universities Commission remains the apex regulatory body responsible for coordinating university education standards, accreditation and policy direction across Nigeria’s higher education system.
