President Bola Tinubu has appointed a former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, as the next chairman of the National Universities Commission governing board.

Mr Ogundipe’s appointment was announced on Monday. He will lead the governing board of the regulatory body responsible for overseeing Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

The appointment was announced in a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

Mr Ogundipe’s appointment came less than a year after former chair Olufemi Aina’s resignation.

“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 said.

Mr Ogundipe’s appointment is also part of an effort to improve service delivery, quality, access, and integrity in Nigeria’s education sector, according to the statement.

Mr Ogundipe’s role would also be to improve global competitiveness with other top universities worldwide, alongside ensuring efficient leadership and academic stability.

Mr Ogundipe holds a PhD in botany from Obafemi Awolowo University, where he specialises in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation. He obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from UNILAG.

Mr Ogundipe served as the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG from 2017 to 2022 and currently serves as the pro-chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun state. He held the positions of President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council.

The 66-year-old is recognised as a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology.