Amechi Akwanya

Nicholas Amechi Akwanya, is a Nigerian retired professor, priest, poet and a novelist. He was a former dean of Postgraduate studies of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a former head of department of English and Literary Studies of the institution. He is a fellow of Nigeria Academy of Letters.

Early life and education Akwanya was born on 6 December 1952 in Awkuzu, Oyi LGA of Anambra State. He attended his primary education in Akwuzu and he moved to Hallows Seminary, Onitsha. However, during the civil war (1967–1970) Onitsha was taken by the federal forces, the school was moved to Awka-Etiti near Nnewi, and then Ukpor, south of Nnewi. In 1972 he began his philosophy studies in Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu. He later proceeded to Theology in 1976 and finished in 1980 with Priestly Ordination. In 1982 he was given an admission in the National University of Ireland where he bagged double Honours degree in English and Geography. He later obtained his master's degree in English in (1986), and finished his PhD in 1989 with a thesis entitled Structuring and Meaning in the Nigerian Novel.

Career In 1985, Akwanya was employed by the Department of English, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Ireland as a graduate Assistant. However, he resigned and enrolled for his PhD in 1986. Upon the completion of his programme, he returned to Nigeria and took his first academic appointment as a lecturer II at the Department of English, University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1991. In 1994 he became Lecturer I and in 1996, he was promoted to a Senior Lecturer. In 1999, he became a full professor. He retired from the University of Nigeria on 6 December 2022 and tn March 17, 2023, he was appointed Vicar General, Diocese of Aguleri.

Awards and honours In 2004, he was awarded the Most Dedicated Staff Award of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Most Innovative Head of Department Award, by English Students Association. In 2007, he was listed in The Nigerian Book of Great People. Chinua Achebe's Writing: An Investment in Speech (1989). Semantics and Discourse: Theories of Meaning and Textual Analysis. Verbal Structures: Studies in the Nature and Organizational Patterns of Literary Language. Communication Skills: Needs Analysis,’ in Common Frontiers in Communication Skills: Focus on the Nigerian University System. Discourse Analysis and Dramatic Literature. Official Language Policy and the Decline in the Standard of Language Use. Language and Habits of Thought The Criticism of African Literature. Major Themes in African Literature Pilgrim Foot: A Collection of Poems.