By Adekunle Oluwafunmilayo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, a renowned botanist and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), as the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Professor Ogundipe, 66, currently serves as the Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State. He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 2017 to 2022 and holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos.
He succeeds Emeritus Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned from the position less than a year after his appointment. Professor Aina was appointed by President Tinubu in July 2025, while members of the board were inaugurated in November of the same year.
Announcing the appointment, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga stated that Professor Ogundipe would oversee the nation’s university regulatory agency with a focus on strengthening funding, improving global competitiveness, and ensuring academic stability across Nigerian universities.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu expects the new NUC chairman to sustain the credibility of Nigeria’s university system in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda by advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.
However, Ogundipe’s appointment has drawn attention to allegations that emerged during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
During his administration, investigations and audits of the university’s financial records reportedly led to allegations of procurement irregularities and financial misconduct. A panel constituted by the university’s Governing Council under the chairmanship of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wale Babalakin, examined the allegations between 2018 and 2019.
The panel, chaired by Saminu Dagari, reviewed the institution’s financial transactions and submitted its findings to the Governing Council, which subsequently removed Ogundipe from office.
The decision generated controversy within the university community, prompting then-President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and reinstate him. Buhari later established a separate review panel headed by Professor Tukur Sa’ad, former Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, to examine the circumstances surrounding his removal.
While the Sa’ad panel recommended Ogundipe’s reinstatement, it reportedly did not absolve him of the allegations. In a letter cited by Premium Times in October 2020, Sa’ad clarified that the panel was not mandated to determine the validity of the allegations against the former vice-chancellor.
Subsequently, another investigative panel led by retired Lieutenant General Martins Agwai was established to further review the matter. Although its report was not officially released to the public, media reports indicated that the panel upheld several findings contained in earlier investigations.
Among the allegations highlighted were claims of procurement violations, contract splitting, and unauthorized financial approvals. Reports also alleged irregularities in recruitment processes during Ogundipe’s tenure.
Despite the controversies, no court conviction has been recorded against the former vice-chancellor, and he has continued to occupy leadership positions within Nigeria’s higher education sector.
His appointment as NUC Board Chairman places him at the helm of the body responsible for coordinating, regulating, and maintaining standards within the Nigerian university system.
