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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has officially announced the appointment of Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya as its 16th Vice-Chancellor.
The announcement, made on Sunday, followed the ratification of his appointment by the University’s Governing Council after what the institution described as “a transparent and merit-based selection process.”
The selection exercise was chaired by Kayode Ojo, the Chairman of the Governing Council.
In a statement signed by the Acting Public Relations Officer of the university, Inya Agha Egwu, the management said Professor Ortuanya’s appointment marks the beginning of a new era of academic excellence and transformational leadership at Nigeria’s first indigenous university.
“The Management of the University of Nigeria is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, a distinguished Professor of Law, as the 16th Vice-Chancellor of the University,” the statement read.
It added that Ortuanya “brings with him a wealth of academic and administrative experience,” citing his previous roles as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law, UNN, and Dean of Law at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). The statement also noted that he has been a visiting scholar at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Beyond academia, Prof. Ortuanya has had a vibrant career in public service. He served as Secretary to the Enugu State Government and was the first Director-General of the South East Governors’ Forum. He also held the position of Commissioner for Education in Enugu State and previously worked at the federal level as Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and Culture.
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The University said his “deep understanding of university governance, policy, and law, as well as his extensive leadership experience, will significantly advance the mission and vision of Nigeria’s premier university over the next five years.”
Prof. Ortuanya was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after earning his LLB (Hons) from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, in 1987. He holds an LL.M from the University of Lagos and a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) from Loyola University Chicago. Between 2003 and 2005, he was a visiting scholar at Loyola, a role that enriched his international academic exposure.
He has previously served as Director of the Law Clinic and Associate Dean at UNN’s Faculty of Law. At ESUT, he headed the Department of Private Law and served as Director of the university’s Law Clinic. His academic influence also extends to his involvement with the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association.
A widely published legal scholar, Prof. Ortuanya has authored numerous academic texts, including Law of Evidence in Nigeria: Practice and Procedure, HIV/AIDS Law and Policy in Nigeria, Public Health Law and Policy in Nigeria, and Human Rights Law in Nigeria: Law, Practice and International Perspectives.
He is also the founding and principal partner of Prof. S.U. Ortuanya & Co (Word Chambers), a respected law firm offering services across various sectors of the Nigerian economy.
His professional affiliations include Fellowships of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators and the Chartered Institute of Administration of Nigeria. He is also a member of the American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics, the American Health Lawyers Association, and the International Bar Association, among others.
The University community has welcomed his appointment with optimism, expressing confidence in his capacity to steer the institution towards greater academic and institutional achievements.
