By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Anambra’s Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has reached yet another defining milestone in her already towering intellectual journey, as the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) names the globally-acclaimed novelist a Visiting Professor.
Confirmed by the university authorities and dated December 18, the appointment , which has formally ushered the Africa’s one of the most influential literary voices into professorial ranks, also places the her alongside two other global heavyweights — Prof. Kevin Urama, a development economist and African Development Bank executive; and Prof. James Robinson, a renowned political economist at the University of Chicago, both of whom were also appointed professors same date by the UNN.
Announcing the development, the University described the move as part of its broader institutional effort to reconnect with world-class scholars and reposition the university as a centre of rigorous thought, creativity and global relevance.
According to the University, her Visiting Professorship will add immense value to the academic community through lectures, scholarly engagements, and the mentorship of students and young academics.”
The Acting Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Inya Agha Egwu, who announced the appointments in a statement issued on Wednesday said the move aligns with the Vice-Chancellor’s commitment to attracting eminent global scholars to UNN.
According to him, “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.”
While noting that the latest appointments bring the total number of Visiting Professors appointed by the Vice-Chancellor in December 2025 to four, the acting University Spokesman also explained that the Visiting Professorships are designed to promote knowledge exchange, strengthen international linkages, and bridge the gap between theory, policy, and practice.
Meanwhile, congratulations have already started pouring out for Adichie and other new Visiting Professors.
Born on September 15, 1977, in Enugu and raised in Nsukka, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie hails from Abba in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State. She briefly studied Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before relocating to the United States, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Political Science from Eastern Connecticut State University, followed by a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Johns Hopkins University and another Master’s in African History from Yale University.
Adichie rose to global prominence through her powerful storytelling and intellectual engagement with themes of identity, feminism, colonial history, war and migration.
Her novels, including Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, have won multiple international awards and are widely studied in universities across the world, while her essays, including We Should All Be Feminists and Dear Ijeawele, have positioned her as a leading voice in contemporary social thought.
Beyond literature, Adichie is also recognized as a public intellectual whose speeches, lectures and writings have continued to shape global conversations on culture, gender and African narratives.
