The appointment of Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya as the 16th Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has drawn fresh scrutiny following growing concerns about the absence of a verifiable record detailing when he was promoted to the rank of Professor.
In a statement obtained by APC Enugu State Media, academic observers and education stakeholders expressed unease that none of the official or media reports profiling Prof. Ortuanya’s academic career specify his date of elevation — a crucial detail that determines eligibility under the National Universities Commission (NUC) guidelines.
According to the NUC regulation, an individual must have held the rank of Professor for a minimum of five (5) years before being considered for the position of Vice Chancellor in any Nigerian university. Yet, a review of major national dailies — including The Guardian, Vanguard, BusinessDay, and The Sun — as well as UNN’s official communications, shows that while Prof. Ortuanya’s rich academic background is well documented, there is no mention of when he attained professorial status.
Publicly available records indicate the following milestones in his academic and professional career:
1988: Called to the Nigerian Bar after earning his LL.B. from the University of Nigeria.
1991: Obtained his LL.M. from the University of Lagos.
2003: Earned a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) from Loyola University, Chicago, USA.
Served as Director of Legal Clinic, Head of Department, and Dean, Faculty of Law at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
Despite these accomplishments, neither ESUT’s Senate bulletins nor public archives contain an official record confirming his date of promotion to Professor. This omission has heightened calls for clarity, especially given that such documentation is typically a matter of public record for senior academic appointments.
Education analysts have therefore urged both the University of Nigeria and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to publish verifiable evidence confirming the timeline of Prof. Ortuanya’s professorial appointment to ensure transparency, fairness, and public trust in the selection process.
They argue that the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system depends on openness and adherence to established academic standards, especially for leadership positions in top-tier institutions like UNN.
Until the relevant authorities provide clarification, questions about when Prof. Ortuanya became a full Professor — and whether the appointment meets the NUC’s statutory requirement — remain unanswered.
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