UNN Names Chimamanda Adichie, and Others Visiting Professors

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has appointed acclaimed writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, African Development Bank executive Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, and renowned political economist Prof. James Robinson as Visiting Professors, reinforcing its drive to strengthen global academic engagement.

The appointments were approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, and formally communicated to the appointees through letters dated December 18, 2025.

According to the university, the Visiting Professors will contribute through teaching engagements, collaborative research, mentorship, and strategic academic interactions aimed at elevating UNN’s international profile.

Adichie’s appointment recognises her far-reaching impact on literature, creative writing, and global intellectual discourse. The university noted that her involvement would significantly enrich scholarship within the arts and humanities through lectures, seminars, and mentorship of students and early-career academics.

Prof. Urama, a leading development economist with extensive experience in climate policy and evidence-based policymaking, is expected to strengthen teaching and research in economics, development studies, and related fields.

Prof. Robinson, a distinguished scholar from the University of Chicago, brings global expertise in political economy, institutions, governance, and economic development. UNN said his appointment would deepen academic collaboration and expose students and faculty to contemporary global scholarship.

Speaking on the development, the university’s Acting Public Relations Officer, Mr. Inya Agha Egwu, described the appointments as part of a deliberate strategy to attract eminent global scholars and reposition UNN as a globally competitive institution.

He added that the latest appointments raise the number of Visiting Professors named by the Vice-Chancellor in December 2025 to four, describing the move as a clear signal of the university’s renewed commitment to academic excellence and international relevance.