Amechi Nicholas Akwanya, the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Aguleri, is a retired Professor of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Born in Awkuzu under what was then known as Onitsha Native Authority, and now part of Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State on 6 December 1952 to Christian and Virginia Akwanya, Msgr Akwanya was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Onitsha on 5 July 1980 after philosophical and theological studies in Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, 1972-1980. This period of studies was interrupted, 1975-1976, to serve as a prefect in All Hallows Seminary, teaching and assisting in the formation of the minor seminarians. He assisted in the pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese of Onitsha, 1980 to 1982, before departing for further studies in the Republic of Ireland. His educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Divinity from Urban University, Rome (1980), and BA (Double Honours, English and Geography, 1985), MA (English 1986), and PhD (English 1989), from National University of Ireland at St Patrick, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Permitted to seek university employment by Archbishop S.N. Ezeanya after nearly two years of teaching in St Paul’s Seminary Ukpor, the junior secondary arm of the Archdiocesan minor seminary, he joined the services of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1991 as a Lecturer II and rose to the rank of a professor in 1999. He served the University of Nigeria in various capacities for thirty-one years, including headship at different times of three different academic departments and Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies of the University, and retired on 6 December 2022, having been honoured with the distinction of the Fourth Professorial Valedictory Lecture of the University on 1 December 2022. Previously, he gave the 17^th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, 28 February 2007, which was serialized in the Daily Champion, 19.58-89, from Wednesday, 21 March 2007 through to Wednesday, 2 May 2007. Since retirement from pensioned employment, he has been serving as a Contract Professor of English & Literary Studies, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike.

      Priestly service began with Parochial Vicar at Immaculate Heart Parish, Fegge-Onitsha (1980-1981), under Very Rev. Msgr Ferdinand Ugwueze; then he was appointed the Parish Priest of St William, Nkwelle Ezunaka, at the same time serving as a lecturer in theology in the Brothers of St Stephen Novitiate, Nkwelle Ezunaka, positions he held from 1981 to 1982, and then travelled for further studies in the National University of Ireland, at St Patrick, Co Kildare. He was also to serve as the Parrish Priest of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church, Amichi while researching for his PhD thesis (Nov. 1986 to June 1988). Between 1989 and 1991, he held the position of Academic Vice- Rector in St Paul’s Minor Seminary, Ukpor and then received appointment as a Lecturer in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His other services for the Archdiocese of Onitsha include Episcopal Vicar for Priests Civil Servants (2003-2023), and chairman, Committee for Further Studies for Priests, Shanahan University Project, and Strategic Planning Committee for Education. His priestly services have been transferred to the Catholic Diocese of Aguleri since its Canonical Erection on 17 March 2023, but he still serves the Archdiocese of Onitsha as a member, Board of Trustees, Shanahan University, Onitsha.

      He is highly experienced as an administrator, as he chaired over five national accreditation panels under National Universities Commission and was part of the team that developed the National University Commission’s CCMAS (Core Curriculum & Minimum Academic Standards) that came into operation throughout the Nigerian University system in 2023/24 academic session. He also served as the chairman or a member in over 20 committees in the University of Nigeria. He officially acted and represented the Vice Chancellor of his University on several occasions, and was the Dean, School Postgraduate Studies (2009-2011), a two-time Head of Department of English and Literary Studies (2002-2005, 2011-2014), Head, Department of History and International Studies (2017-2019), Coordinator, Sub-Department of Dramatic Arts (1998-2000), and two-term University of Nigeria Orator. As the Coordinator he made the case and managed the establishment of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies. He fully crafted the Academic Programme that was in use in the Department of English & Literary Studies from 2011 till the introduction of the new CCMAS.

      As an academic and researcher, Akwanya authored 14 books, including the Heinemann novel entitled Orimili, and shortlisted for the Best First Book Award (1992), and Care and Crisis in Chinua Achebe’s Novels (Routledge, London and New York, 2024). He also produced 24 edited books, 26 book chapters, and 58 journal articles. He has presented over 30 invited lectures and lead papers. He has successfully produced 14 PhD graduates three of whom have become professors, and examined numerous PhD candidates for Nigerian and foreign universities. He was a three time searched candidate for the post of Vice Chancellor for two federal universities in Nigeria, and as has been noted, is a member, Board of Trustees, Shanahan University, Onitsha. He is the editor of Okike: An International Journal of New African Writing, founded by the illustrious Chinua Achebe in 1972, and sits on the editorial board of about 10 local and international academic journals.

      He has been given numerous recognitions, including appointment as a Papal Chamberlain, 7 April 2022, by His Holiness, Pope Francis. He is also a Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Letters, Fellow, Institute of Industrial Administration, Honorary Fellow, Institute of Certified Managers of Nigeria, the National President, Institute of Leadership and Policy Implementation, and Fellow, Institute of Leadership and Policy Implementation. He was listed in the Nigerian book of great people in 2007, and received the Academic Noble International Award.

      His current Diocesan Curia duties include:

Standing Committee for Education (Chairman)

Historical/Yearbook Commission (Coordinator)

Social Communication/Publications (Consultant)