₦airaland Forum

Established on the 7th of October 1960 by Nigeria's first President, Nnamdi Azikiwe, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (popularly abbreviated as UNN) is Nigeria's first full-fledged indigenous university. Over the years, it has continuously churned out graduates and nurtured professors who have gone out to conquer the world in unique ways. Below is a list of a few (just 70) of those outstanding, accomplished and celebrated individuals opportune to have passed through UNN:

Chinua Achebe (Don): Acclaimed father of modern African literature; author of the best selling African book of all-time which has been translated into over 50 global languages, Things Fall Apart; recipient of over 40 doctorate degrees honoris causa.

Fabian Udekwu (Don): Led the team that conducted black Africa's first successful open heart surgery in 1974 at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH).

Adiele Afigbo (Don): Professor of Igbo and African history; lectured in UNN between 1966 and 1992.

Babs Fafunwa (Don): Educationist; former Minister of Education; former Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Dora Akunyili (Alumna/Don): Former Minister of Information and Communications; former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); B.Pharm., 1978; PhD, 1985; Professor of Pharmacology, 2000.

Laz Ekwueme (Don): One of Nigeria's pioneer professors of music.

Alexander Enukora (Don): Nominated 3 times for the Nobel Prize in Physics; a pioneer of solar energy in Nigeria.

Arunma Oteh (Alumna): Vice President & Treasurer of the World Bank; former Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission Nigeria (SEC); B.Sc. in Computer Science (First Class).

Chukwuma Soludo (Alumnus/Don): Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), 2004 to 2009; B.Sc. in Economics, 1984 (First Class); M.Sc., 1987 (Best Graduating Student); PhD, 1989 (Best Doctorate Student); Professor of Economics, 1998.

Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele (Alumnus): Current Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); former Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank PLC; B.Sc. in Banking and Finance, 1984; MBA, 1986.

Obiageli Ezekwesili (Alumna): Former Vice President of the World Bank’s Africa department; former Minister of Solid Minerals Resources; former Minister of Education; #BringBackOurGirls leader.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Alumna): Multi-award-wining novelist; Grammy Award nominee.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Alumna): Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain; Nigeria's former Ambassador to Ghana; former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria; first African Miss Intercontinental; LL.B.

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu (Alumnus): Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); former Vice President of ExxonMobil in Nigeria; LL.B (First Class).

Ike Ekweremadu (Alumnus): 3-time Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate; Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament; LL.B.; LL.M.

Peter Obi (Alumnus): Former Governor of Anambra state; former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); B.Sc. in Philosophy, 1984.

Enoch A. Adeboye (Alumnus): General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); B.Sc. in Mathematics, 1967.

Chuba Okadigbo (Don): Former President of the Nigerian Senate.

Chinedu Nebo (Don): Former Minister of Power; former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 2004 to 2009.

Olisa Agbakoba (Alumnus): Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); LL.B., 1977.

Eni Njoku (Don): Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos; former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Sullivan Chime (Alumnus): Former Governor of Enugu state; LL.B., 1980.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Alumnus): Incumbent Governor of Enugu state; B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Business Administration.

Chris Ngige (Alumnus): Former Governor of Anambra state; ex-senator; MBBS, 1979.

Chimaroke Nnamani (Alumnus): Former Governor of Enugu state; ex-senator; MBBS, 1983.

Peter Odili (Alumnus): Former Governor of Rivers state; MBBS.

Okesilieze Nwodo (Alumnus): Former Governor of Enugu state; former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); MBBS, 1977.

Niki Tobi (Alumnus): First person to earn a PhD in Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1983.

Pat Utomi (Alumnus): B.Sc. in Mass Communications.

Lam Adesina (Alumnus): Former Governor of Oyo state; member of the pioneer class of 1963.

Viola Onwuliri (Alumna): Former Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs; former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; former Minister of State for
Education; B.Sc. in Biochemistry, 1979.

Humphrey Nwosu (Don): Former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), now the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).

Eme Ewa (Don): Former Chairman of NECON, now INEC.

Maurice Iwu (Don): Former Chairman of INEC.

Miriam Ikejiani-Clark (Don): Former of Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Stella Oduah (Alumna): Senator; former Minister of Aviation.

Joy Emordi (Alumna): Ex-senator; former Senior Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; B.Sc. in Geography Education, 1979; LL.B., 1985.

Fidelia Njeze (Alumna): Nigeria's Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein; former Minister of Aviation; B.Sc. in Pharmacy.

Osita Chidoka (Alumnus): Former Minister of Aviation; former Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission of Nigeria (FRSC), B.Sc. in Management, 1995.

Uche Azikiwe (Alumna/Don): Wife of Nigeria's first President; BA in English; M.Ed. in Curriculum Studies; M.Ed. in the Sociology of Education/Women Studies; PhD in Sociology of Education/Women Studies.

Fabian Osuji (Alumnus): Former Minister of Education; former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; B.Sc. in Zoology, 1967.

Azikiwe Peter Onwualu (Alumnus/Don): Former Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

Oserheimen Osunbor (Alumnus): Former Governor of Edo state; LL.B. (First Class).

Ojo Maduekwe (Alumnus): Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada; former Minister of Foreign Affairs; former Minister of Culture and Tourism; former Minister of Transport; LL.B., 1972.

David Ogbueli (Alumnus): Founder of the David Ogbueli Ministries; B.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry.

Sarah Ogbueli (Alumna): Wife of Pastor David Ogbueli; B.Sc. in Computer Science.

Chris Okotie (Alumnus): General Overseer of the Household of God Church International Ministries; LL.B., 1984.

Zack Orji (Alumnus): Actor; B.Sc. in Estate Management, 1984.

Kenneth Okonkwo (Alumnus): First leading actor in a Nollywood movie; B.Sc. in Business Administration.

Herbert Wigwe (Alumnus): CEO and Group Managing Director of Access Bank PLC Nigeria; B.Sc. in Accountancy.

Ogbonnaya Onovo (Alumnus): Former Inspector General of the Nigerian Police Force; B.Sc. in Political Science, 1976.

Nnamdi Okore-Affia (Alumnus): Former Director-General of the National Youth Servive Corps (NYSC); B.Sc. in Political Science, 1981.

Ousman Jammeh (Alumnus): Former Gambian Foreign Minister; former Gambian Energy Minister.

Boniface Egboka (Alumnus/Don): Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; B.Sc. in Geology, 1974.

Ola-Rotimi Matthew Ajayi (Alumnus): Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Landmark University.

Ilochi Okafor (Alumnus): Former Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; LL.B.

Abhulimen Anao (Alumnus): Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin.

Celestine Onwuliri (Alumnus): Former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO); B.Sc. in Zoology, 1975.

Chibueze Ogbuagu (Alumnus/Don): Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).

Christian Anieke (Alumnus): Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu (GoUni); B.Sc. in Education and English, 1989.

James Epoke (Alumnus): Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UniCal); B.Sc. in Microbiology.

Dennis Onah Christopher (Alumnus/Don): Vice Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT); B.Sc. in Veterinary Medicine, 1981 (Best Graduating Student).

J. O. Onah (Alumnus): Former Vice Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

Ogwo E. Ogwo (Alumnus/Don): Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Renaissance University, Ugbawka (RNU); former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU); B.Sc. in Business Administration, 1975.

Gilbert Onuaguluchi (Don): Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos (UniJos).

Cyril Onwumechili (Don): Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife (now known as Obafemi Awolowo University); former Vice Chancellor of the Anambra State University of Technology (now known as the Enugu State University of Science and Technology).

Michael Echeruo (Don): Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University (IMSU).

James O. C. Ezeilo (Don): Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano; pioneer Director General of the National Mathematical Center.

Gaius Igboeli (Don): Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Makurdi (now the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi); pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Paul University, Awka.

Cyril Enweze (Alumnus): Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); former Deputy Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF); B.Sc. in Economics.

psucc:
Nigerians with figure, analysis and inference.

Do you also take other factors into consideration before arriving at that conclusion?

kokoA:
How are they the "best graduates" in Nigeria?

ObamaSonnn:
How are they not the best graduates in Nigeria? How do you determine "best?"

kokoA:
I should be asking you that question. How did you arrive at your conclusion?

Newsi:
Jealousy. She doesn't even know you exist. Keep drinking red palm oil.

Duru1:
Chinua Achebe was a graduate of University of Ibadan not UNN.

Over the years, it has continuously churned out graduates and nurtured professors who have gone out to conquer the world in unique ways.

handsomeclouds:
So Bianca ojuka's case is also part of 'best graduates'? SMH!!!

Missy89:
UI Alumni shat on this list

vicadex07:
Lol...if person list UI alumnus, the whole nairaland no go contain am...besides I only see igbo people here. Is the OP trying to pass a subtle message