The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a leading public university located in Enugu State in southeastern Nigeria, has appointed internationally acclaimed novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, African Development Bank executive Professor Kevin Chika Urama, and United States-based political economist Professor James Robinson as Visiting Professors, in a strategic move aimed at reinforcing the institution’s global academic relevance.
Okay News reports that the appointments were formally approved by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Professor Simon Ortuanya, and conveyed to the appointees through official letters dated Thursday, December 18, 2025.
According to the university authorities, the Visiting Professors are expected to contribute to teaching, collaborative research, academic mentorship, and high-level intellectual engagement that will enhance the institution’s international standing and scholarly output.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a globally respected Nigerian author known for her influential works in literature, creative writing, and cultural discourse, was appointed in recognition of her enduring contributions to global intellectual thought. The university stated that her presence would significantly enrich scholarship within the arts and humanities.
“Her Visiting Professorship will add immense value to our academic community through lectures, scholarly engagements, and the mentorship of students and young academics,” the university stated.
Professor Kevin Chika Urama, a distinguished development economist and a senior executive at the African Development Bank, an international financial institution headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, was also appointed based on his expertise in development economics, climate policy, and evidence-based public policymaking.
The university noted that his involvement would strengthen academic instruction and research, particularly in economics, development studies, and related social science disciplines.
Also joining the institution as a Visiting Professor is Professor James Robinson, a globally renowned political economist at the University of Chicago, a private research university in Illinois, United States of America. Robinson is widely recognized for his scholarly work on governance, institutions, and economic development.
The university stated that his appointment is expected to deepen international academic collaboration while exposing students and faculty members to advanced global scholarship in political economy and development studies.
Speaking on the development in an official statement released on Wednesday, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the University of Nigeria, Mr. Inya Agha Egwu, said the appointments align with the Vice-Chancellor’s vision of attracting eminent scholars from across the world.
“The University of Nigeria was founded to be a globally competitive institution. These appointments represent a significant step towards reclaiming that legacy and enhancing the university’s global relevance,” Egwu said.
He further explained that the Visiting Professorship initiative is designed to promote knowledge exchange, strengthen international academic linkages, and bridge the gap between theory, policy, and practical application.
Egwu also disclosed that the latest appointments bring the total number of Visiting Professors appointed by the Vice-Chancellor in December 2025 to four, describing the development as “a clear signal of UNN’s renewed drive for global excellence.”
