NSUKKA, August 4, 2025
In a major leadership shift, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has appointed Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya as the institution’s new substantive Vice-Chancellor, marking an end to over a year of transitional administration at the university.
The official confirmation was issued on Monday through a statement from the university’s Public Relations Office, indicating that the appointment followed a rigorous and transparent selection process conducted by the Governing Council and chaired by Engr. Kayode Ojo. The Council unanimously ratified Ortuanya’s selection based on merit.
Professor Ortuanya, a seasoned academic and legal expert, previously held key public service roles including Secretary to the Enugu State Government and Commissioner for Education. He also served as a professor at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), an Associate Dean at the Faculty of Law, UNN Enugu Campus, and a visiting scholar at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, USA.
His appointment ends a prolonged leadership interregnum that began in June 2024 and has since seen a rotation of acting Vice-Chancellors, with Professor Oguejiofo T. Ujam holding the position in acting capacity since February 2025. The institution had faced calls from both academic and student stakeholders for leadership clarity and strategic direction.
UNN’s Governing Council expressed confidence in Professor Ortuanya’s capacity to steer the university toward academic excellence, institutional reform, and global competitiveness. The appointment also quells recent speculation surrounding his candidacy, which had been previously dismissed by the university pending official ratification.
Professor Ortuanya is expected to assume office immediately and begin engagements with faculty, students, and relevant stakeholders to set the tone for his administration.
