Ogundipe Seeks Sustainable, Harmonized Relationship between NUC, Professional Bodies

Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Chairman of the Governing Board for the National Universities Commission (NUC) and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, has called for a harmonized relationship between the NUC and Nigeria's professional regulatory bodies to address the issue of double oversight. In his 2026 convocation lecture at Osun State University, Ogundipe urged the university system to shift from an accreditation-focused culture to a quality assurance culture.

He argues that accreditation should confirm existing quality, not create temporary quality. Ogundipe highlights the importance of embedding various aspects of quality assurance, such as curriculum review, staff development, and infrastructure renewal, into the normal governance processes of universities. The NUC and professional regulatory bodies have clashed over issues like curriculum ownership, accreditation timelines, and minimum standards, which affect institutional planning, academic staff burdens, student outcomes, public trust, and national development.

To resolve these issues, Ogundipe recommends legislative clarification of jurisdictional boundaries, a national consultative framework, harmonized accreditation protocols, a student-protection principle, and a shared national regulatory information platform. He emphasizes that the regulatory calendar must be integrated into institutional planning and that accreditation should be transparent to students.

Ogundipe commends recent reform initiatives by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and stresses the importance of achieving buy-in through careful negotiation and sustained engagement.