When Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya took office on 11 August 2025 as the 16th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), the institution was weighed down by years of infrastructural decay, administrative inertia, and declining community confidence. A mood of cautious expectation filled the three campuses.One hundred days later, the atmosphere has shifted. The question across lecture halls, laboratories, and offices is no longer if change will come, but how far it can go.
A New Dawn 
Prof. Ortuanya’s earliest moves targeted the university’s deteriorating physical environment. More than 4.5 kilometres of internal roads, including Elias Avenue, Zik’s Drive, Chitis/Alumni Road, Main Gate Road, and the VC’s Office Road, have been rehabilitated. The long-abandoned UNN Filling Station returned to service, and the long-overdue hostel renovations have been scheduled, with three new hostel blocks of 40 rooms each already planned for pharmacy and nursing students at Ituku Ozalla.Perhaps, one of the most significant is the resurrection of the Senate Building, which stagnated for years at the piling stage. After Prof. Ortuanya rebuked the contractor for going at the pace of a snail, foundation for the long-awaited Senate Building has commenced in earnest. 
“The new pace of work at the senate building site symbolizes hope”, said an academic staff who would not want to be  mentioned.
Other ongoing projects include the renovation of the VC’s Lodge and the construction of a mini power grid dedicated to the University Library. Many other projects that have completed the procurement process include the construction of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences Building, and the construction and furnishing of new Laboratory building at the College of Medicine. Also processed and awaiting award and commencement are the completion of access road to the Lion Science Park, construction of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering building; Rehabilitation of Imoke street road; rehabilitation of Kwame Nkrumah hostel, UNEC, rehabilitation of Balewa Hostel, and the supply and installation of solar street light at UNEC. 
“Infrastructure development on our campus in the past 100 days is mind blowing, we are in for a good ride within the next five years”, Comrade Chinedu  Ozagu, the SUG President of Nsukka Campus,  said.      
Reviving the Den’s Academic Spirit
Alongside physical infrastructure, the administration launched initiatives to revitalise scholarship and research competitiveness. The Michael Okpara Centre for Leadership and the Centre for Electric Vehicle Development were established within the first 100 days. To improve the university’s performance in global rankings, experts from Times Higher Education and other international resource persons were invited to train academic staff on enhancing research visibility and impact.

Prioritising Staff and Students’ Welfare
Staff morale received a major boost with the ongoing clearance of all pending appraisals and promotions which is expected to elevate hundreds of staff members. Two new directorates, the Housing and Accommodation Directorate and the Community Relations Directorate, were also created to address long-standing challenges in staff housing and town–gown relations.
One of the administration’s most unifying gestures was resolving the  conflict between the legislative and executive arms of the Students’ Union Government, paving the way for the lifting of the ban on SUG activities at the Nsukka Campus. Students said that the lifting of the ban restored their sense of belonging and representation.
Reforming Governance, Strengthening Security
Governance reform has been another defining feature of Ortuanya’s first 100 days. New or updated policies were introduced in Public–Private Partnerships, Public Information and Communications, whistleblowing, environmental management, ICT, and research administration.
“The policies represent a practical approach to institutional reforms. Most of them are ready, while a few others are at the final stages of completions”, said Prof. Nnaemeka Chukwuone, the Chairman, System Policy  Alignment Reforms Committee, which is charged with the responsibilities of coordinating other policy committees.  
Security restructuring was swift. New leadership was appointed for the Security Department at Nsukka Campus, modern response equipment was procured, including motorbikes for swift emergency responses. A  comprehensive security staff audit was conducted to ascertain the manpower needs of the Security Unit. A high-level UNN Security Summit that brought together state security agenciesbwas organized  to develop coordinated, technology-driven strategies for safeguarding lives and property in the University. 
“I’ve never seen our security department this organized,” says a personnel of the University of Nigeria security  Unit who pleaded anonymity. 
Reclaiming Global Relevance
Even as internal reforms takes shape, the Vice-Chancellor prioritised rebuilding UNN’s international presence. In his first 100 days, he: hosted officials from the Swedish Embassy; signed a memorandum of understanding during a visit to the University of Waterloo, Canada; renewed the university’s relationship with Michigan State University and established a new front with the University of Michigan, and led a delegation to Taiwan for academic and governmental partnership engagements
“We must do things differently to return the UNN to the world stage,” the Vice-Chancellor told staff at his inaugural meeting.
Leadership with Quiet Urgency
Many staff of the University of Nigeria have described Prof. Ortuanya’s leadership style as decisive and quietly relentless. “He doesn’t make noise,” Georgina Odigbo an administrative staff said. “He gives instructions, and the next day, you see results.”
Reflecting on his first 100 days, the Vice-Chancellor remained modest. “These achievements are not mine alone,” he said. “They reflect collective commitment. And truly, we are just beginning.”
Written by Inya Agha Egwu Ag. Public Relations Officer, UNN