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In this article, The Witness Nigeria Chronicles the biography, family, career and life story of Joseph Utsev.
He currently serves as Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Full Name: Joseph Terlumun Utsev
Age: 43 years old
State of origin: Plateau State.
Place of Birth: Benue
Religion: Christianity
Joseph Utsev was born into Utsev Akaa family of Mbaakura, Mbagen in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. He is a well-known Academia, politician, philanthropist, entrepreneur and administrator of great repute.
Reading, opening up new research horizons, traveling, and playing badminton are all things that Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev appreciates.
He is a contentedly married man with kids from his previous union.
Educational career of Joseph Utsev
He graduated as the top student in 2004 with a 2nd Class Honours “Upper Division” mark from the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, where he earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering.
He completed his one year required NYSC scheme between 2005 and 2006 at the Kaduna State Development and Property Company (KSDPC).
He was subsequently hired as a graduate assistant in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi in 2006 after completing his NYSC.
The outstanding engineering expert is also a graduate of the esteemed University of Nigeria Nsukka, where he earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in environmental engineering and water resources, respectively, in 2007 and 2011.
Professional career of Joseph Utsev
With about 17 years of teaching and professional experience, Engr. Prof. Terlumun Utsev has amassed about 40 publications in prestigious national and international journals. As a result of his broad experience in Civil Engineering practice and research, he has developed a reputation as a truly accomplished administrator and highly regarded professional within the West African subregion.
Prof. Utsev, a charming administrator, was appointed as Deputy Director and later confirmed as Full Director in the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi from 2013 to 2017 where he championed the setting up of seven workshops that are currently used for the training of students in entrepreneurship and also form a source of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the Institution.
As a result, Prof. Utsev was appointed Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources and Environment Benue State in the same year 2017, where he contributed to the design of the Idye Basin Phase II (Police Zone 4 – Mobile Barracks) drainage and also had an impact on its construction by the Federal Government.
His appointment as the Executive Director Engineering, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority Makurdi, was authorized by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020. He oversaw the construction of numerous dams, bridges, roads, boreholes, drainages, and other engineering projects during his brief tenure at the Authority. He also commanded the engineering team.
He is currently trying to make the Federal Polytechnic Wannune in Benue State into a top-notch institution that would address the academic, professional, and employment difficulties facing the region as well as all of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Prof. Terlumun Utsev is a member of the Institute of Entrepreneurs of Nigeria. Also a registered civil engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). He is also a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Amongst the other numerous bodies he belongs to as a fellow include:
- The Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers
- Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers
- Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria
- Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria, and a graduate member of the Nigeria.
In addition to attending numerous professional conferences and seminars around Nigeria, Africa, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, among other places, he has successfully oversaw numerous undergraduate and graduate research projects.
He recently received a promotion to the prestigious position of Professor of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi’s Department of Civil Engineering.
Besides, some of the prestigious awards he has garnered for himself include:
- 2018 Independent Assessors’ Best Honourable Commissioner in Nigeria’s Water/Environmental Sector.
- he Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria’s Academic Noble Award
- Distinguished Merit Award for Academic Excellence by Kings Comprehensive College Old Students Association.
- Distinguished Merit Award for Water Resources Engineering Infrastructural Development.
- Award of Service by the Alumni of the University of Agriculture Makurdi
- Award for Effective Service Delivery and Open Door Policy by the Jemgbagh Media Forum.
- Onov Mba Tavershima by the Catholic Women Organization, Catholic Youth Centre Parish, Makurdi.
- Distinguished Merit Award for Water Resources Engineering Infrastructural Development, Professional Excellence Award from the Makurdi Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
- Acknowledgment from ACE Events management, UK, for assistance at Water Africa and West-Africa Building & Construction’s 2017 Edition.
In recognition of his commitment to excellence, Engr. Prof. Utsev was named Vessel of Perseverance by the St. John Paul II Catholic Chaplaincy at the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi in 2018. He also received the Distinguished Merit Award from the campus chapter of the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi Alumni Association in 2018.
From research he is currently worth over one billion naira.
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