Adichie Denies Appointment as UNN Visiting Professor

Celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has dismissed reports claiming she was appointed a visiting professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Earlier reports had suggested that UNN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, named Adichie alongside Prof. Kevin Urama of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Prof. James Robinson of the University of Chicago as visiting professors. The reports cited a statement dated December 18, 2025, allegedly issued by the university’s acting Public Relations Officer, Inya Egwu, describing the appointments as part of efforts to project UNN onto the global academic stage.

However, Adichie’s communications team firmly rejected the claim. In a statement issued Wednesday evening and signed by Omawumi Ogbe, the team said no such appointment had been offered to the award-winning writer.

“It has come to our attention that several news outlets are reporting that Ms. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been appointed as a ‘Visiting Professor’ at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN),” Ogbe said.

“We wish to state categorically that this information is entirely false.”

According to the statement, Adichie “has not received any such appointment, nor has she been in communication with the University regarding a professorship,” adding that reports of official letters signed and dated December 18, 2025, were inaccurate.

While noting that UNN remains dear to Adichie as the institution where she grew up and where her parents served as Professor and Registrar respectively, the statement expressed disappointment over the circulation of the claim without verification.

“We urge the public and the media to disregard these false reports. We also request that the outlets currently carrying this news take it down immediately to avoid the further spread of misinformation,” Ogbe added.

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