Renowned Nigerian writer and global literary icon, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has been appointed a visiting professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), marking a symbolic return to her alma mater and a major boost to the institution’s global academic profile.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued in Nsukka on Wednesday and signed by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Inya Egwu.
According to the statement, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, also approved the appointment of two other internationally acclaimed scholars—Prof. Kevin Urama, an executive at the African Development Bank (AfDB), and Prof. James Robinson, a professor of political economy at the University of Chicago—as visiting professors of the institution.
The appointments, dated December 18 and signed by the Vice-Chancellor, form part of the Ortuanya administration’s broader strategy to reposition UNN on the global academic stage through partnerships with distinguished scholars of international standing.
The university said the letters of appointment outlined the roles and expectations of the visiting professors to include teaching engagements, collaborative research, academic mentorship, public lectures and other strategic scholarly interactions.
Egwu said Adichie’s appointment was in recognition of her outstanding contributions to literature, creative writing and global intellectual discourse, describing her as one of the most influential literary voices of her generation.
“Her visiting professorship will significantly enrich the arts and humanities at the University of Nigeria through lectures, scholarly engagements and mentorship of students and young academics,” the statement said.
Adichie, an alumna of UNN, is widely celebrated for works such as Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, as well as her influential essays on feminism, culture and identity, which have earned her numerous international awards and honours.
On Prof. Kevin Urama, the university noted that his appointment was based on his extensive expertise in development economics, climate policy and evidence-based policymaking.
Urama, who currently serves as Vice President and Chief Economist at the African Development Bank, is expected to strengthen teaching, research and policy-oriented programmes at UNN, particularly in economics, development studies and related disciplines.
Similarly, Prof. James Robinson, a renowned political economist at the University of Chicago, was appointed in recognition of his globally acclaimed work on institutions, governance and economic development.
Robinson is best known as the co-author of the influential book Why Nations Fail, which has shaped global debates on political economy, institutional reform and development.
The university said his engagement would provide students and faculty members with exposure to cutting-edge scholarship in political economy, governance and development studies, while also fostering international research collaboration.
According to the statement, the three visiting professors are expected to deepen academic partnerships, advance research output and enhance UNN’s visibility within the global academic community.
The appointments, the university added, reflect its renewed commitment to excellence in teaching, research and global engagement, while leveraging the expertise of world-class scholars to enrich learning and knowledge production.
UNN expressed confidence that the visiting professorships would inspire students, strengthen academic capacity and contribute to the institution’s long-term goal of becoming a leading research university in Africa.