Chimamanda Adichie Denies Appointment As UNN Visiting Professor

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

Adichie refuted the claims in a statement issued on Wednesday by her communications team, signed by Omawumi Ogbe, who disclosed that no such offer was ever made to the award-winning author.

According to the statement, reports circulating in the media that Adichie had been appointed as a visiting professor, with official letters allegedly signed and dated December 18, 2025, were false and inaccurate.

“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),” the statement read.

“We wish to state categorically that this information is entirely false. Ms. Adichie has not received any such appointment, nor has she been in communication with the University regarding a professorship.”

While noting that UNN occupies a special place in Adichie’s life as the institution where she grew up and where her parents served as Professor and Registrar, respectively, the statement expressed disappointment that such a significant claim was circulated without verification.

The communications team urged members of the public and media organisations to disregard the reports and called on outlets that published the information to take it down immediately to prevent further spread of misinformation.

The denial followed an earlier announcement by UNN that it had appointed Adichie, African Development Bank executive Prof. Kevin Urama, and University of Chicago scholar Prof. James Robinson, as visiting professors.

The university said the appointments, approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, were part of efforts to reposition the institution on the global academic stage, adding that Adichie’s visiting professorship would contribute to lectures, scholarly engagements and mentorship of students and young academics.