By Matthew Ogunwale
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has made history by appointing Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya as its 16th Vice Chancellor. This appointment marks a significant milestone in the institution’s 64-year history, as Prof. Ortuanya is the first Vice Chancellor from the Enugu North Senatorial District, commonly known as the Nsukka Zone, since the university’s establishment in 1960.
The announcement came after a meeting of the Governing Council held at UNN’s Enugu campus on Sunday. Prof. Ortuanya, a distinguished legal scholar and the current Dean of the Faculty of Law at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), will succeed Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam and serve a five-year term.
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Ortuanya expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State, and the university’s leadership for their support in his appointment. He praised President Tinubu for his ongoing educational reforms, stating, “We are indeed proud of him and very proud of his administration.”
He also commended Governor Mbah for his unwavering determination and visionary leadership, which helped make the long-standing dream of the Nsukka people a reality. “Let me appreciate our Governor for his doggedness and single-mindedness in making sure that today becomes a reality,” he remarked.
Prof. Ortuanya acknowledged a wide range of contributors, including the Chancellor and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II); the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Engr. Kayode Olubunmi Ojo, members of the selection board, and the academic and non-academic staff and students of the university.
He pledged to “serve this university with all my heart and with all my strength,” promising to usher in a new chapter for UNN. “We will redeem our name; we will rebuild confidence and construct new dreams while treading paths never walked before,” he stated.
Prof. Ortuanya also called for unity and collaboration among all stakeholders in the university community, urging them to join him in restoring the institution’s founding vision: to “restore the dignity of man.”
Earlier, while announcing the appointment, Pro-Chancellor Engr. Kayode Ojo revealed that the rigorous selection process began under the previous council, with 26 candidates shortlisted. He emphasised that the university was looking for a candidate who not only had academic depth but also strong external networks to attract development to the institution.
“Prof. Ortuanya was found to be more than qualified to lead this great university, turn it around, and uplift it from decay in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu,” Ojo said. He added that the appointment aligns with the federal government’s renewed commitment to revitalising first-generation universities in Nigeria.
Prof. Ortuanya holds a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degree, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), and a Fellow of the Corporate Institute of Arbitrators (FCIA). His leadership at ESUT’s Faculty of Law has been credited with raising academic standards and enhancing the global competitiveness of its graduates.
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