The Acting Vice-Chancellor (Ag. VC) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam, has initiated reforms in line with his vision for inclusive governance and sustainable academic excellence.
Less than a month into his tenure, he has made key appointments aimed at repositioning the university for ethical and innovative learning.
On Monday, 17th March 2025, Prof. Ujam appointed Professor Kamoru Olayiwola Usman as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Academics—the first time a person of Yoruba extraction has held this position in the university’s history.
Shortly after, on 20th March 2025, he also appointed Dr Mansur Adebowale Saddiq as the Acting Director of the UNN Medical Centre.
During his first address to the UNN Senate on 26th February 2025, Prof. Ujam emphasised his commitment to repositioning UNN as a centre for ethical research and groundbreaking innovations.
He described his appointment as “a collective demand on our individual contributions and collective responsibility to reposition the institution on a steady course towards ethical and innovative learning.”
Congratulating the newly appointed officials, the Ag. VC reiterated his resolve to return UNN to its legendary status as a hub for human inquiry and invention.
He stressed the need to eliminate divisions and biases that have hindered academic progress, urging the university community to embrace unity and collaboration.
“The UNN must regain its pride of place as Nigeria’s premier university. We cannot afford to be left behind in today’s technological race between OpenAI and DeepSeek,” he stated, adding that Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State has been championing a shift towards experiential learning.
Prof. Usman, who succeeds Prof. Urama, holds a PhD in Mathematics Education and served as the Provost of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, from August 2015 to 2023. A distinguished scholar, he is a member of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies and a fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria.
His professional affiliations include the Association of Promoting Quality Education in Nigeria (APQEN), the Curriculum Organisation of Nigeria (CON), and the Fulbright Alumni, among others.
His appointment, initially for a two-year term with the possibility of renewal, has been met with widespread acclaim from scholars and students of diverse backgrounds, who see it as a step towards greater inclusivity and academic excellence at UNN.
Prof. Ujam urged the University Senate and the wider academic community to work with him in cleansing the institution of sectionalism and mediocrity. He emphasised the need for an enabling environment that fosters comparative research, interdisciplinary studies, and the adaptive application of knowledge.
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