By Peace Erewunmi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The appointment was announced in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Professor Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment.

A renowned professor of Botany, Ogundipe served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022. His areas of expertise include molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.

The 66-year-old academic holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from University of Lagos. He currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University.

According to the Presidency, Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body responsible for the Nigerian university system, with a focus on funding, academic stability, and global competitiveness.

President Tinubu expressed confidence in the former UNILAG Vice-Chancellor’s ability to provide visionary leadership and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s higher education sector in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The National Universities Commission remains the principal regulatory agency for university education in Nigeria, overseeing standards, accreditation, and policy implementation across the country’s tertiary institutions.