After more than half a decade of what seemed like moment of lamentation, marginalization and frustration the university of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN has got its first indigenous Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya was announced the 16th Vice-Chancellor of the University on Sunday, following a rigorous selection process that place in the Ivory tower last week.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the announcement that of Prof. Ortuanya, the former Dean of Faculty of Law of Enugu state University of Science and Technology, ESUT as the new Vice-Chancellor was a big relief for the host communities of the first indigenous university in Nigeria.
The host communities include the seven local government areas of the state; Nsukka, Igbo-Etiti, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Udenu, Uzo-Uwani and Isi-Uzo who have been clamouring for the appointment of one of their own as the Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
List of UNN Vice-Chancellors till date
Dr. George Marion Johnson: 1960 – 1964.
Professor Glen L. Taggart: 1964 – 1966
Professor Eni Njoku: July 1966 – 1967; 1967 – 1970 (Abia Old Imo State)
Professor Herbert C. Kodilinye: 1971 – 1975 (Anambra state)
Professor James O. C. Ezeilo: 1975 – 1978 (Anambra state)
Professor Umaru Shehu: 1978 – 1979 (Borno State)
Professor Frank Nwachukwu Ndili: 1980 – Oct. 1985 (Delta State)
Professor Chimere Ikoku: 1985 – 1992 (Abia Old Imo State)
Professor Oleka K. Udeala:1992 – 1995 (Abia Old Imo State)
Professor Umaru Gomwalk: May 1994 – (appointed as the Sole Administrator) (Plateau State)
Professor Ginigeme Francis Mbanefoh: 1999 – 2004 (Anambra state)
Professor Osita Chinedu Nebo: June 2004 – June 2009 (Enugu State)
Professor Bartho Okolo: 2009 – June 2014 (Enugu State)
Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba: June 2014–June 2019 (Anambra state)
Professor Charles Arizechukwu Igwe: June 2019–2024 (Anambra state)
Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam (Enugu state from Nkanu West) as appointed the Acting Vice-Chancellor in June 2024 following the expiration of the tenure of the former VC.
Recall that for the past two decades, the clamour for the appointment of the indigenous Vice-Chancellor has become even louder with many good-spirited individuals, persons and groups of the Nsukka extraction calling for appointment of VC of Nsukka origin.
In a chat last year during the heat of clamour, Dr. Kelvin Nnadi, an entrepreneur and an alumnus of the institution explained that
Federal universities use host communities as criteria for admission and that is the reason many of us here became graduates of UNN.
“Given eminently qualified professors of Nsukka origin it is rather shameful to insinuate that asking to be given a chance to for once head UNN by Nsukka people is asking for mediocrity. It is inclusion and promotion of diversity.
“Those who love equity and inclusion should join Nsukka professors in this clamour to be given a fair chance in the next selection of VC for UNN. They have eminently qualified candidates for the top job and the last VC contest was denied late Prof Ezeugwu who came first on merit consideration due to financial inducement by those who got the slot back to back over the last 10 years.
“To canvass for a slot for the host community in the leadership of UNN since 1960, has merit, has equity and fairness if the current rape, rot, dehumanisation of host community staffers and running of the institution as ivory tower enclave and enclosure with no material impact on the host community is to stop. We the Nsukka people need the support of other people to make this dream a reality. UNN must serve its hosts and others fairly and equitably and the time is now.”
Reactions trail the appointment
Reactions have continued to trail the appointment of Prof. Simon Ortuanya as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University from Nsukka extraction.
In an exclusive chat with our reporter Chief Chijoke Attah, a social and political analyst and Enugu-based journalist said that ” the appointment of Prof. Simon Ortuanya as the new Vice-Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka is a welcome development.”
Explaining further, he said that this is the first time since the existence of the Ivory Tower over six decades a Vice-Chancellor from Nsukka extraction would emerge.
On the expectations on the new Vice-Chancellor, Chief Attah stated that expectations are high given the fact that there is infrastructural decay in the institution.
According to him, it is also expected that people of the Nsukka zone comprising of the seven local government areas should get good work in the institution.
Also reacting to the appointment, Dr. Kelvin Nnadi, expressed his joy over the appointment.
He enumerated the expectations of the new Vice-Chancellor to include; “inclusion of Host Communities, clearing of all legacy ground rent debts within 3 months.”
Dr. Nnadi further stressed that “the new VC should partner with Enugu State to rehabilitate UNN’s water scheme for community use.
“He should deploy UNN’s 100-hectare Okpuje farm for chili farming with export linkages via Enugu Airport.
“Again, he should initiate 5-10MW embedded power plant for UNN and share excess with the host community
” Moreso, Immediate Action: Audit UNN’s ICT gaps in first 100 days.”
On the ICT improvement he said that “he should partner with Microsoft, Google, APTECH NIIT for IT Education and certifications.
“He should introduce Student-Centric Tech, with intention to introduce coding boot camps and hackathons.
“Finally, a 21st-century university without robust ICT is like a library without books.”
However, reacting to the appointment, an Enugu-based legal practitioner, Barr. Onuora Odo told WITHIN NIGERIA that “The appointment of Prof. Simon Ortuanya as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is a historic milestone, marking the first time an indigenous academic is occupying the position in the institution’s 64-year history.”
Explaining further, he said that “this development has been received with widespread joy and pride among students, alumni, the academic community and more particularly, the good and enterprising people of Enugu North Senatorial zone.
“Overall, Prof. Ortuanya’s appointment is widely seen as a significant step toward recognizing homegrown academic leadership and a new chapter for the institution.
“The truth is that the expectations are high given that he is the first indigenous Vice Chancellor of the University. He is expected to hit the ground running in order to meet the expectations. No doubt, he has all it takes to pilot the affairs of the great citadel of learning.”
Profile of Prof. Simon Ortuanya
The new Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya hails from Ohodo community, Igbo-Etiti local government area of Enugu state.
Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, SJD, FCIArb, FCIA is a Professor of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law, Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
As the Dean of Law, his unending passion for academic excellence and his Midas touch, propelled him into improving tremendously the learning environment of law graduates of the faculty of law, ESUT.
This is reflected in the quality of graduates of the faculty that can compete globally with their counterparts and thereby, repositioning the faculty in the world map.
Prof. Ortuanya is the immediate past Secretary to Enugu State Government (SSG) and also the Pioneer Director-General of Southeast Governor’s Forum.
He is a former Commissioner of Education, Enugu State with numerous educational policies and laudable contributions towards an improved educational system of Enugu State under the past administration.
He had previously served as Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and culture of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is the also the Founding/Principal Partner of Prof S.U Ortuanya & Co, (Word Chambers), an innovative and leading 21st century top law firm that provides legal support services across diverse areas of law that touches various business sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after obtaining an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, in 1987. He obtained Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from University of Lagos in 1991 and a Doctorate in Law (SJD) from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2003. Between 2003–2005, he was a Visiting Scholar at Loyola University, Chicago School of Law in the United States of America (USA). He had served as the Director of Law Clinic and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus between 2007-2011.
Between 2013-2016, he was Director of ESUT Legal Clinic. He was previously, the Head of Department of Private Law, Faculty of Law, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), as well as Director of ESUT Law Clinic.
He has also served on the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association.
Prof. Ortuanya has published extensively in both local and international journals and has authored several top selling books including but not limited
to Law of Evidence in Nigeria: Practice and Procedure; HIV/AIDS Law and Policy in Nigeria; Public Health Law and Policy in Nigeria; Human Rights Law in Nigeria: Law, Practice and International Perspectives; Health Law Legislation in Nigeria and Fighting on the Side of Law and Justice: Legal Essays in Honour of Professor G.O.S. Amadi among others.
He is a specialist in Law of Evidence, Criminal Law, Human Rights Law, Legal Drafting, Public Health Law and Corporate Law. Prof. Ortuanya is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators; Fellow, Chartered Institute of Administration of Nigeria; Member of American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics; a member, American Health Lawyers Association and a member of International Bar Association (IBA)among many others.
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