President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission. The announcement was made on Monday through a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Ogundipe steps into the role vacated by Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned after less than a year in office. "Professor Ogundipe succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office," the Presidency disclosed.

The President has outlined a clear agenda for the new chairman. "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 statement revealed. The Presidency added that the appointment was designed to advance quality, access and integrity in the education sector, with particular emphasis on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability. "He will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability," it noted.

Ogundipe served as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022 and currently holds the position of Pro Chancellor at Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State. The 66 year old academic holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos. His areas of specialisation include molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany and ecological conservation.

He is a fellow of several distinguished professional bodies, among them the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London and the Royal Society of Biology. Ogundipe has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.

His appointment comes at a critical period for Nigerian higher education, with the NUC expected to intensify efforts around quality assurance, institutional funding and the global ranking of Nigerian universities under the current administration's reform drive.