The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Simon Ortuanya, has appointed globally renowned writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, African Development Bank (AfDB) executive Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, and Prof. James Robinson of the University of Chicago as Visiting Professors, in a strategic move to reposition the institution on the global academic stage.
The appointments were conveyed through official letters dated December 18, 2025, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor. The letters outlined the roles and expectations of the Visiting Professors, including teaching engagements, research collaboration, mentorship, and strategic academic interactions.
Adichie, one of the most influential literary voices in the world, was appointed in recognition of her outstanding contributions to literature, creative writing, and global intellectual discourse. The University noted that her Visiting Professorship is expected to enrich the arts and humanities through lectures, scholarly engagements, and mentorship of students and young academics.
Prof. Urama, a distinguished development economist and senior official at the African Development Bank, was appointed in view of his extensive expertise in development economics, climate policy, and evidence-based policymaking. His engagement is expected to strengthen teaching, research, and policy-oriented programmes, particularly in economics, development studies, and related disciplines.
Also appointed is Prof. James Robinson, a renowned political economist at the University of Chicago whose work on institutions, governance, and economic development has earned global recognition. According to the appointment letter, his Visiting Professorship is intended to deepen academic collaboration, advance research, and expose students and lecturers to cutting-edge global scholarship in political economy and development studies.
The Acting Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Inya Agha Egwu, said the appointments align with the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment to attracting eminent global scholars and industry leaders to UNN, in line with the vision of the institution’s founding fathers.
“The University of Nigeria was founded to be a globally competitive institution, and these appointments represent a significant step towards reclaiming that legacy and enhancing its global relevance,” Egwu said.
He explained that the Visiting Professorships are designed to promote knowledge exchange, strengthen international linkages, and bridge the gap between theory, policy, and practice.
Egwu added that the latest appointments bring the total number of Visiting Professors appointed by the Vice-Chancellor in December 2025 to four.
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