Prof Charles Igwe, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has died after reportedly suffering a heart attack, according to sources familiar with the development.

Professor Igwe, a respected soil scientist and academic administrator, was said to have slumped on Sunday, December 28, 2025. He later died, marking the end of a career that spanned several decades in teaching, research, and university leadership.

Academic Career and Leadership at UNN

Born on August 23, 1958, Prof Igwe served as the 15th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a position he held from 2019 to 2024. During his tenure, he was known for his focus on institutional stability and academic development within the university system.

According to records from UNN, he joined the institution in 1976 as a soil survey assistant and later became a member of the academic staff. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, earning recognition for his research in tropical soil stability and his contributions to environmental and agricultural science.

In 2016, he was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and was reappointed to the role in 2018, further cementing his reputation as a seasoned university administrator.

No Official Statement Yet

As of the time of filing this report, neither the University of Nigeria, Nsukka nor Prof Igwe’s family had released an official statement confirming his death.

However, a senior academic at UNN confirmed the development to THE WHISTLER. “Prof Igwe is dead. I called the family,” the source said. The scholar requested anonymity, explaining that he was not an official spokesperson for the university and had not been authorized by the family to make a public announcement.

Tributes Expected

Meanwhile, colleagues and former students are expected to pay tribute to the late professor, who played a significant role in shaping academic and administrative policies at one of Nigeria’s leading universities. Further details regarding funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.