Joseph Terlumun Utsev, a Professor and Engineer, is a renowned Nigerian university academic turned politician.
Utsev was born in Utsev Akaa family of Mbaakura, Mbagen in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
On Thursday 27 July 2023, he was nominated by Nigeria’s President, His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, to serve as a Minister in the country.
He graduated in 2004 with a 2nd Class Honours from the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, where he earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering.
He completed his one year 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.
Work Experience
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 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 (7) 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.
As Rector of Federal Polytechnic Wannune in Benue State he was committed to making it a top-notch institution that would address the academic, professional, and employment difficulties facing the region as well as all of Nigeria.
Membership of professional bodies, associations
Prof. Terlumun Utsev is a member of the Institute of Entrepreneurs of Nigeria,
A registered civil engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)
A fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers
A fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers,
A fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers
A fellow of the Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria
A fellow of the 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.
Recently, he 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. HONOURS/AWARDS
Engineer Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev has won numerous honors and awards, including but not limited to the following:
2018 Independent Assessors’ Best Honourable Commissioner in Nigeria’s Water/Environmental Sector
the 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.
Private Life
Reading, opening up new research horizons, traveling, and playing badminton are all things that Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev appreciates.
