PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has appointed former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
News Point Nigeria reports that Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, “Professor Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.”
The statement explained that the new NUC Governing Board Chairman would oversee the regulatory body responsible for Nigeria’s university system, with particular focus on funding, academic stability and enhancing the global competitiveness of Nigerian universities.
“He will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability,” the statement said.
The Presidency further noted that the appointment forms part of efforts to strengthen standards within the education sector.
According to the statement, “The appointment is aimed at advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.”
President Tinubu was also quoted as expressing confidence in Ogundipe’s ability to provide effective leadership for the commission.
“President Tinubu expects Professor Ogundipe to provide visionary leadership at the National Universities Commission and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the Presidency stated.
Ogundipe, a distinguished professor of Botany, served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022.
His areas of academic specialisation include molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany and ecological conservation.
The academic holds a doctorate degree in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Lagos.
The 66-year-old scholar currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University.
He is also a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London and the Royal Society of Biology.
Beyond academia, Ogundipe has served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and as Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.