President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission.

Ogundipe succeeds Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment. Aina was appointed by President Tinubu in July 2025, while the board was inaugurated in November of the same year.

A renowned academic, Ogundipe served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022. He is a professor of Botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.

He earned a doctorate degree in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos.

Currently, the 66-year-old academic serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State.

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

As chairman of the NUC governing board, Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory agency responsible for Nigeria’s university system, with responsibilities that include policy direction, academic standards, institutional development, and funding oversight.

The presidency said the appointment is expected to strengthen efforts aimed at improving quality, access, academic integrity, and global competitiveness within the nation’s higher education sector.

President Tinubu expressed confidence in Ogundipe’s capacity to provide strategic leadership at the commission and advance reforms in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda for education and national development.