[14] Advice was sought from educationists in the UK and the US to help in the planning of the physical and educational aspects of the proposed university.

The team surveyed the site at Nsukka and extensively investigated a great variety of factors pertinent to the establishment of a new university.

The results of their efforts were contained in a white paper issued by the Eastern Nigeria Government on 30 November 1958.

They further recommended that a provisional council be established to "draw upon the technical and consultative resources available throughout the world for help in planning the institution".

It consisted of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, chairman, Dr T. Olawale Elias and Dr Okechukwu Ikejiani from the Federation of Nigeria, J. S. Fulton from the United Kingdom, Dr. Marguerite Cartwright and Dr. Eldon Lee Johnson from the United States.

The university was formally opened on 7 October 1960, as the climax to the Nigerian independence celebrations in the country's Eastern Region, by Princess Alexandra of Kent.

Classes began on 17 October 1960 with an enrollment of 220 students and 13 members of the academic staff.

[citation needed] The university was fully autonomous, with the power to grant its own degrees.

The Faculties of Business Administration, Environmental Studies, Law and Health Sciences are located at the Enugu Campus.

Novelist Chinua Achebe held research and teaching appointments at the university, beginning in the early 1970s.

He worked in the faculty of arts with critic and African literature scholar Donatus Nwoga.

[37] The Department of Fine and Applied Arts is known for the Nsukka group – seven artists associated with a system of traditional Igbo designs and styles known as uli.

On 8 March 2009, the multi-complex Nnamdi Azikiwe Library of University of Nigeria, Nsukka was officially opened by the then minister of Education, Dr Sam Egwu.

[44] The library collection is unique because it contains an Africana section that houses rare books such as Biafrana and Achebeana.

University of Nigeria Nsukka alumni are made up of numerous politicians, like the state governors as well as senators and ministers in the Nigerian and other African governments, academics, actors, artists and business people.The Vice-Chancellor is supported by two deputy vice-chancellors.