President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has appointed an Educationist, Emeritus Professor of Business and Technical Education, Oluremi Raphael Aina, OFR,as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The 13th NUC new Board Chairman, Professor Aina is a foremost educationist, whose career saw him teach at various educational institutions within and outside the country.
He was appointed Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business and Technical Examination Board from 1992 to 2002 and Member, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from 2011 to 2015.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, inaugurated Professor Aina alongside other distinguished Nigerians including the former Governor of Nasarrawa State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who is the Chair of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) into the boards of agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) as well as governing councils of selected federal tertiary institutions.
Dr. Alausa, who presented letters of appointment to the appointees on Tuesday, 1st July, 2025, in Abuja, charged them to provide visionary and accountable leadership to reposition Nigeria’s universities and colleges for global competitiveness.
In his keynote address, the Minister congratulated the appointees on their nominations and confirmations, noting that their appointments were both a recognition of their individual achievements and a call to national service.
He emphasised that Governing Councils, as the highest policy-making bodies in tertiary institutions, play a crucial role in institutional governance, policy formulation, financial oversight, and ensuring academic and administrative excellence.
“Your appointments are not only a recognition of your individual achievements and contributions to national development but also a call to serve with integrity, vision, and accountability,” he said.
The Hon. Minister acknowledged the numerous challenges confronting the tertiary education sector, including funding constraints, infrastructural deficits, industrial disputes, and declining global rankings.
He urged the new council members to provide strategic oversight while respecting the autonomy of university management.
“Your role is not to run the universities on a daily basis, but to provide strategic direction and ensure that the institutions are governed in accordance with the relevant laws and extant policies,” he stated.
Dr. Alausa stressed that university autonomy must be matched with transparency and accountability in procurement, budgeting, appointments, and contract awards.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to revitalising the tertiary education sector under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the administration is investing in infrastructure, promoting solar energy solutions for campus electrification, enhancing staff welfare, and improving access to quality education.
“Strategic engagements with stakeholders have led to policy reforms aimed at fostering institutional autonomy, promoting research and innovation, and ensuring industrial harmony,” Dr. Alausa said.
He reminded the appointees that their roles are not ceremonial but a national duty requiring diligence, commitment, and strategic leadership.
In his goodwill message at the occasion, the Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN, congratulated the Chairmen of the various boards of agencies and governing councils on their well deserved appointments.
He described their appointments as merit-based and advised them to work closely as a team in order to overcome the challenges confronting their institutions.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, the Chairman of the UBEC Governing Board, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, thanked President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve.
He assured the Federal Government of the councils’ collective resolve to support the transformation of the nation’s education sector.
The newly appointed chairpersons include the Chairman, Governing Council, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa, Delta State, Vice-Admiral Victor Ombu (rtd); and Chairman, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State.
Others are Executive Secretary, National Mass Education Commission (NMEC); Adebayo Onigbanjo, National Coordinator, Special Programmes Operation and Implementation Unit (SPOIU), Professor Shuaibu Aliyu; and Chairman, African Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja, Hon. Chidi Nwogu. Also appointed were Chairman, Governing Council, University of Jos, Dr. Folashade Kareem; , Chairman, Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Olusina Adeniyi; and Chairman, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Babatunde Olokun, among others.