Tinubu appoints Ogundipe to head National Universities Commission

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission.

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Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Prof. Olufemi Aina, who was appointed by Tinubu in July 2025 but resigned less than a year into the role.

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The appointment was announced in a statement on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

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According to the statement, Ogundipe will oversee the country’s university regulatory agency with a focus on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability.

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“The appointment is aimed at advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector,” the statement read.

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It added that President Tinubu expects the former UNILAG Vice-Chancellor to provide “visionary leadership” at the commission and sustain the credibility of Nigeria’s university system in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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

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He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.

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The 66-year-old currently serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State. He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnean Society of London and the Royal Society of Biology.

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He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.

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