Amb. Ejike Eze, a retired Career Diplomat says he has no doubt that, Prof Simon Ortuanya, the new Vice-chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) will reposition the university to a greater height.
Eze, who was former Senior Special Assistant on Protocols and Security to former President Olusegun Obasanjo said this in Nsukka on Saturday while briefing newsmen.
He said Ortuanya as an erudite professor and seasoned administrator would bring his many years of experience to reposition and make UNN one of the best in the world.
“The new VC is an erudite professor of Law and an administrator who held positions such as Commissioner for Education in Enugu State,, Secretary to Enugu State Government among others.
“I have no doubt he will bring his many of experience to reposition UNN to a greater height,’ he said.
The career diplomat said that the appointment of Ortuanya as VC of UNN had broken jinx of many decades that no Nsukka person had been appointed VC in UNN.
“All sons and daughters in Nsukka cultural zone are excited and overwhelmed with joy on the appointment of Ortuanya as the first VC of Nsukka extraction.
“The good people of Nsukka will give maximum support to the new VC and ready to contribute in whatever capacity to ensure his tenure after five years remain one of the best in the history of UNN,”he said.
Eze commended President Bola Tinubu the Visitor of the university for approving the appointment, he also applauded Gov.Peter Mbah of Enugu State for standing behind Nsukka people to ensure that this age long dream was realised.
The former assistant to ex-President Obasanjo.also thanked the former Governor of Old Enugu State Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo who was on national television many times to solicit support from Nigerians on the need to appoint a person of Nsukka extraction as VC for UNN since Nsukka is the host community.
“Nwodo made Nigerians to understand that since 1960 UNN was established nobody from Nsukka zone has been appointed VC,
“Nwodo explainations in national television helped ” to garner support” both locally and nationally for Nsukka people during the VC contest,” Eze added.
It would be recalled that, the Governing Council of UNN chaired by Dr. Kayode Ojo, the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Council, had on August 3 announced the appointment of Prof Simon Ortuanya as the 16th substantive Vice-chancellor of UNN
The new VC took over from Prof Oguejiofo Ujam, the Acting VC whose six months tenure expired on August 10,2025.