Tinubu Appoints Former UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Ogundipe as NUC Chairman

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

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Professor Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment. President Tinubu had appointed Professor Aina in July 2025, while members of the NUC Governing Board were inaugurated in November 2025.

A distinguished academic and renowned botanist, Professor Ogundipe served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022. His areas of expertise include molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.

Professor Ogundipe holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos.

Currently aged 66, he serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State. He is also 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.

Over the course of his career, he has held several leadership positions, including 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, Professor Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body responsible for Nigeria’s university system, with a mandate to strengthen funding, enhance global competitiveness, and promote academic stability across tertiary institutions.

President Tinubu expressed confidence in Professor Ogundipe’s capacity to provide visionary leadership for the Commission and to uphold the credibility of Nigeria’s university system. The appointment aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes improved quality, expanded access, and greater integrity within the education sector.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)

June 22, 2026