Tinubu Appoints Ex-UNILAG VC Ogundipe as New NUC Chairman

Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe

Tinubu Appoints Ex-UNILAG VC Ogundipe as NUC Chairman

President charges former University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor with restoring credibility and advancing quality assurance in Nigeria’s university regulatory body.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC) . The appointment was announced on Monday, June 22, 2026, in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga .

Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment . Aina was appointed by President Tinubu in July 2025, and members of the NUC Governing Board were inaugurated in November of the same year . The appointment ushers in new leadership for Nigeria’s university regulatory body, with Ogundipe now taking over the commission responsible for regulating and coordinating university education across Nigeria .

The National Universities Commission (NUC) plays a key role in accreditation of academic programmes, quality assurance, university funding oversight, and maintaining standards in the country’s higher education system . His appointment is expected to strengthen governance and policy direction within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector .

Professor Ogundipe served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022, where he was widely recognised for his administrative leadership and academic contributions . He is a professor of Botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation . He obtained his PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Lagos .

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At 66 years old, Professor Ogundipe currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, where he continues to contribute to institutional governance in higher education . He is a fellow of several prestigious professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology, 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) . Over the years, he has contributed to scientific research, policy development, and capacity building within Nigeria’s education and research ecosystem, earning him recognition as one of the country’s leading scholars in plant sciences and university administration .

The presidency said Ogundipe is expected to provide strategic leadership for the NUC and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s university system . According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the new chairman will focus on improving funding mechanisms, academic stability, quality assurance, and global competitiveness of Nigerian universities . President Tinubu expressed confidence that Ogundipe would help sustain credibility within the tertiary education sector in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda . The appointment is also seen as part of broader efforts to improve access to quality education and enhance the performance of Nigeria’s higher institutions .

As Chairman of the NUC Governing Board, Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness, and academic stability . The President expects him to provide visionary leadership and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system in alignment with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda by advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector .