President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The appointment was announced with Professor Ogundipe succeeding Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned less than a year after assuming office.
Professor Ogundipe served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022 and is widely recognised for his contributions to botanical sciences and higher education administration.
A professor of Botany, his areas of expertise include molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany and ecological conservation.
He holds a doctorate degree in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.
The 66-year-old academic currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University in Osun State and is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London and the Royal Society of Biology.
He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.
As Chairman of the NUC Governing Board, Professor Ogundipe will help oversee policies guiding Nigeria’s university system, with a focus on funding, academic quality, institutional stability and global competitiveness.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the former UNILAG Vice-Chancellor would provide the leadership required to strengthen the credibility and performance of the nation’s universities in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.