The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has appointed Professor Toyin Ogundipe, immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, as the new Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of the Redeemer’s University, Ede. He replaces Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Training and Education of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The other members of the reconstituted Governing Council are Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, Vice-Chancellor; Professor Ahmed Parker Yerima, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Professor Olalere Gabriel Adeyemi, representing the University Senate; Professor Christian T. Happi – representing University Senate, Professor Idowu Odebode, the University Congregation, Professor Emmanuel Ajav (Engineer) of the University of Ibadan, Pastor (Mrs.) Tomi Somefun, representing the RCCG; Pastor Sola Olukoya (Businessman), representing the RCCG; Dr. Olaniyi Salau (Legal Practitioner), representing the RCCG; Mr. Tobi Aniyi (RUN Alumnus representing the. Alumni: Mrs. Funmilayo Olusola Kolade, who represents the National Universities Commission, and Mrs. Mojisola Oje, the Registrar and Secretary to the Council.
The new helmsman was born on 31st May 1960. He began his early education at Araromi Baptist School at Moloney Street before proceeding to secondary school, first at Eko Boys’ High School and later at C.M.S. Grammar School, where he started his A levels at 17 in 1977. He gained admission into the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, to study Botany. ‘
He bagged his first degree in 1984 and had his National Youth Service Corps scheme at Tai-Eleme in Rivers State. He later returned to the University of Ife for a Master’s and PhD degrees in Botany. His PhD was completed in two and a half years in March 1990. In May that same year, he began his academic career at the University of Lagos. Prof. Ogundipe rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2002.
At various times, he trained at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa; University of Reading, U.K.; University of Cambridge, UK; University of Johannesburg; Harvard University in the United States; and Kunming Institute of Botany, China; and has researched on Molecular Plant Taxonomy/Biosystematics, Forensic Botany, Cytogenetics, Ethnobotany, Paleobotany and Ecological conservation, with over 90 publications in accredited academic journals. He also co-authored eight books, with his research output chiefly in molecular plant systematics, updating the taxonomy of some plant genera and using the anatomical features to identify sterile and fragmentary plant specimens.
He has multiple fellowships from the Nigerian Academy of Science and Royal Society of Biology, London; Leadership for Environment & Development, Linnaean Society of London; Institute of Security, Institute of Corporate & Business Affairs Management, Nigeria; and National President, Botanical Society of Nigeria, since joining the University of Lagos in 1990, has held different administrative positions.
Prof. Ogundipe was head of the Department of Botany, where he introduced sweeping reforms. As a sub-dean at the Faculty of Science, he began computerising students’ results and attracted collaboration from multinational corporations. He later became the dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, where he attracted a lot of town-gown relationships and led the computerisation of the entire process in the school.
He was also the director of the Academic Planning Unit and, in 2016, was appointed as deputy vice-chancellor (academics and research) and later appointed as the vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos on November 12, 2017. Professor Ogundipe completed his term of five years as vice-chancellor in November 2022. He is happily married with children.