Former Secretary to Enugu State Government, Ortuanya emerges Vice Chancellor University of Nigeria

Maureen Edozie in Enugu

A former Secretary to the Enugu State Government Prof Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, under the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been confirmed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), following a keenly contest election.

Penpushing reports that the Public Relations Officer of the university Agha Inya, made this known in a statement after pronouncement of Ortuanya by the Governing Council of the institution.

“His appointment was ratified on Sunday by the Governing Council of the University, following a transparent and merit-based selection process chaired by Engr. Kayode Ojo, Chairman of the Governing Council’, Inya said.

“The university community congratulates Professor Ortuanya on his appointment and looks forward to a new era of academic excellence and transformational leadership,” he added.

The Vice-Chancellor between 2007 to 2015, served   under the administration of the then-Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime as Commissioner of Education, and was one time the Associate Dean, Faculty of Law at University of Nigeria (UNN), Enugu campus before he joined Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) as a Lecturer in the same Law Faculty.

 Penpushing further reports that he was one time the Associate Dean, Faculty of Law at University of Nigeria (UNN), Enugu campus before he joined Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) as a Lecturer in the same Law Faculty.

The new Vice Chancellor and first man to head the university and hails from Ohodo, a community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, however, in 2017, became the Director General of the South-East Governors Forum

Penpushing further reports that before now, the people of Nsukka, which hosts the university, had been agitating for the emergence of an indigene as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution for the first time since its existence in the 1950s.

The community, Igbo-Etiti, though a separate local government area in Enugu, is among the areas that make up the Nsukka Cultural Zone, and with the latest appointment, Ortuanya becomes the first Nsukka man to hold the coveted position of vice-chancellor of the university.

Penpushing also reports that sources disclosed that after a hot contest and intrigues following the election, there were speculations that some names were flying around to have emerged.

The sources added that the management of the university in swift reactions cautioned the public to be wary of falsehood milling around concerning the appointment of the Vice Chancellor.

Penpushing reports that following emergence of Ortuanya as the new Vice Chancellor of the university individuals as well as some organisations have continued to congratulate him stressing that he would bring forth his academic excellence and tall leadership style in the University.

The people of Enugu North zone, Nsukka indigenes have equally continued to express their gratitude to God and the Governor of Enugu State Dr Peter Mbah for the success story noting that this is the first time a man from the community is appointed to head the prestigious institution.

Penpushing also reports that in addition to his academic and political roles, Ortuanya is the Founding and Principal Partner of Prof. S.U. Ortuanya and Compnay. (Word Chambers), a contemporary law firm providing legal support across various sectors of the Nigerian economy. Nigeria travel packages

The profile has it that he was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after earning his LLB (Hons) from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, in 1987, and obtained his Master of Laws (LL.M) from the University of Lagos in 1991 and later earned a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2003.

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