President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The appointment was officially announced on Monday in a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Professor Ogundipe takes over from Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position after serving for less than a year.
Driving Academic Excellence and Global Competitiveness
According to the Presidency, Professor Ogundipe is expected to bring his wealth of experience to the regulatory body, which plays a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of higher education in Nigeria. His leadership will focus on critical areas such as securing sustainable funding, enhancing global competitiveness, and maintaining academic stability across Nigerian universities.
The presidential statement highlighted that this strategic appointment aligns with the administration’s broader goals to improve educational access, quality, and integrity nationwide. President Tinubu expressed high expectations for the new appointee, urging him to deliver visionary leadership that aligns with the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and restores public confidence in the tertiary education sector.
A Distinguished Academic Career
Professor Ogundipe, a 66-year-old academic and a renowned Professor of Botany, has a highly distinguished career in Nigerian academia. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022, during which he championed numerous research and development initiatives.
His academic profile and achievements include:
- Specialization: He is an expert in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, cytogenetics, forensic botany, ethnobotany, and ecological conservation.
- Educational Background: He holds a Doctorate degree (PhD) in Botany from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, alongside a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos.
- Current Roles: He currently serves as the Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University in Ede, Osun State.
- Professional Fellowships: Professor Ogundipe is a fellow of prestigious scientific bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Royal Society of Biology, and the Linnaean Society of London.
- Leadership Positions: He has previously served as the President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and as the Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.
With his robust administrative background and deep scientific expertise, stakeholders in the educational sector expect Professor Ogundipe’s tenure at the NUC to bring much-needed innovation and progress to Nigerian universities.