Award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has rejected reports claiming she was appointed as a visiting professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Gatekeepers News reports that earlier reports had stated that the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, approved the appointment of Adichie alongside Prof. Kevin Urama of the African Development Bank and Prof. James Robinson of the University of Chicago. The appointments were said to be part of efforts to raise the university’s global academic profile.
The reports also claimed that the university announced the appointments in a statement dated December 18, 2025, allegedly issued by the acting public relations officer of UNN.
However, Adichie’s media team dismissed the claim, describing it as false and misleading. In a statement signed by her communications manager, Omawumi Ogbe, the author said she was never offered such a position.
The statement reads, “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).”
“We wish to state categorically that this information is entirely false.”
The statement added that Adichie had not received any appointment letter and had not been in contact with the university concerning a visiting professorship.
It stated, “Ms. Adichie has not received any such appointment, nor has she been in communication with the University regarding a professorship. The reports claiming that official letters were signed and dated December 18, 2025, are inaccurate.”
While noting Adichie’s long-standing personal connection to UNN, where she spent part of her childhood and where her parents once worked, the statement expressed disappointment over the circulation of the claim without confirmation.
It stated, “We urge the public and the media to disregard these false reports. We also request that the outlets currently carrying this news take it down immediately to avoid the further spread of misinformation.”
