Visiting professorship dispute: UNN insists Adichie was formally appointed

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has maintained that it formally appointed celebrated writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as a visiting professor, pushing back against claims from the author’s camp that no such appointment exists.

The university reaffirmed its position on Thursday in response to inquiries by Premium Times, days after issuing a statement announcing the appointment.

UNN’s spokesperson, Agha Inya, had on Wednesday said the Vice-Chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, signed letters dated 18 December appointing Ms Adichie, alongside African Development Bank executive Kevin Urama and University of Chicago professor James Robinson, as visiting professors.

According to the statement, the appointments outlined responsibilities such as teaching engagements, research collaboration, mentorship and other strategic academic contributions to the university.

The announcement, however, drew a swift rebuttal from Adichie’s camp. TheCable quoted her media aide, Omawumi Ogbe, as saying the reports were “entirely false,” insisting that the award-winning author neither received an appointment letter nor engaged in discussions with UNN regarding a visiting professorship.

“Ms Adichie has not received any such appointment, nor has she been in communication with the university regarding a professorship,” Ms Ogbe was quoted as saying, adding that reports of letters signed and dated 18 December 2025 were inaccurate.

Adichie is an alumna of UNN, where she studied medicine for about a year and a half before relocating to the United States to pursue further studies.

University doubles down

Speaking with the medium on Thursday, Mr Inya rejected the denial, insisting the appointment process was completed.

“The appointment was made. If she was not appointed, we wouldn’t have issued that statement,” he said.

He clarified that while the university had made the offer, it was entirely up to Adichie to either accept or decline it.

“It is her prerogative to accept or reject the appointment. But to say that the appointment was not made is incorrect,” he added.

Asked whether the author had responded to the offer, the UNN spokesperson said no formal communication had been received from her.

“She will have to write to the university to convey her decision. That is the procedure,” he explained.

Inya also said the appointment letter was sent to Ms Adichie via email, with a hard copy expected to be delivered by courier, though he could not confirm whether she had acknowledged receipt. He further suggested that Ms Ogbe, as a third party, might not be privy to the university’s correspondence with the author.

A check of Adichie’s verified accounts on X and Facebook by New Diplomat showed no public comment from her on the controversy as of Thursday.