The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has made a significant move to enhance its global academic profile by appointing three internationally renowned figures as Visiting Professors. The prestigious appointments include acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, African Development Bank executive Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, and University of Chicago scholar Prof. James Robinson.
Official Approval and Strategic Vision
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, officially approved the appointments on December 18, 2025, with formal communication letters issued on that date. This strategic initiative is a core part of the university's broader plan to reposition itself within elite global academic circles and reclaim its founding legacy as a world-class institution.
According to the university management, the distinguished scholars will contribute across several key areas. Their roles will encompass teaching, collaborative research projects, mentorship programs, and other academic engagements designed to foster robust international partnerships and elevate the institution's scholarly output.
Impact Across Key Disciplines
The appointments are tailored to strengthen specific academic fields. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's role will focus on literature, creative writing, and intellectual thought. The university stated that her presence is expected to immensely benefit the arts and humanities faculties, providing students and young academics with unique access to her insights through lectures and direct interactions.
Prof. Kevin Urama, a leading development economist and climate policy expert, will reinforce teaching and research in economics and development studies. His appointment aims to bridge academic theory with evidence-based policy-making, encouraging scholarship that addresses real-world challenges in Africa and beyond.
Prof. James Robinson, a famed political economist known for his work on institutions and governance, is set to introduce students and faculty to contemporary global debates. His involvement is anticipated to promote advanced academic collaboration and deepen understanding of political economy and development studies at UNN.
A Signal of Renewed Drive for Excellence
In a statement, the Acting Public Relations Officer, Mr. Inya Agha Egwu, emphasized that these appointments reflect the Vice-Chancellor's unwavering commitment to attracting top-tier global talent. He described the move as a clear signal of UNN's renewed drive for global excellence and relevance.
Egwu also revealed that these three appointments bring the total number of Visiting Professors named by the Vice-Chancellor in December 2025 to four, marking a period of intense strategic recruitment. The structured Visiting Professorships are designed not only for knowledge exchange but also to build lasting international partnerships and connect academic rigor with practical policy and industry application.
The university anticipates that the engagements of Adichie, Urama, and Robinson will significantly support staff development, expand critical research networks, and provide students with unparalleled exposure to leading voices in their respective fields, ultimately deepening scholarship and raising research standards across the institution.
