Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has officially assumed office as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Ogundipe was inaugurated on Friday at the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja, where he received his official letter of appointment.
President Bola Tinubu appointed him on June 22 to lead the NUC governing board following the resignation of Prof. Olufemi Aina, who stepped down from the position less than a year after taking office.
The appointment is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s university system by promoting improved funding, academic stability, quality assurance and greater global competitiveness.
Reacting after his inauguration, Ogundipe expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, describing the appointment as a great responsibility.
He also acknowledged the contributions of his predecessor, Prof. Olufemi Aina, and pledged to build on the progress already made at the commission.
According to Ogundipe, one of his major priorities is ensuring that degrees awarded by Nigerian universities meet international standards and are widely respected across the world.
He stressed that increased investment in research, innovation and entrepreneurship remains essential to improving the quality of higher education in the country.
The former UNILAG Vice-Chancellor added that expanding access to quality education while maintaining the integrity of academic qualifications would remain central to his leadership at the commission.
Addressing Nigerian students, Ogundipe said they remain the primary focus of the reforms he hopes to champion, expressing optimism that a stronger university system would contribute to the country’s overall development.
