Prof. Enyinna Joseph Chuta, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi will be buried on 22 December 2023 at his private residence in Akwete, Ukwa-East Local Government Area of Abia State.
According to a statement signed by Chimere Chuta on behalf of his family, the burial will be preceded by a service of songs on 15 December 2023 at St. James Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja.
Aged 86, Chuta, a professor of Agricultural Economics, passed away in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the United States, the statement from his family further said.
Born on 3 July 1937, the late Prof. Chuta joined Nasarawa State University in 2006 after he stepped out of retirement to take up an appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and between 2009 and 2010 served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
Before going to the Nasarawa State University, he had served Nigeria in various capacities and was dedicated to developing a generation of youths with a firm belief that they would one day be of great service to Nigeria.
He had returned to Nigeria in 1983 after achieving a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and lectured at the Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State. He was then appointed as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the defunct Modibbo Adama College, University of Maiduguri, Yola Campus.
In 1988, he was appointed as the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Students Loans Board, Abuja, by President Ibrahim Babangida and served in that position until 1993. He was then re-appointed as the Administrator of the newly established Nigerian Education Bank. In 1999, the late agricultural economics professor was appointed the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Bank. He was at the Education Bank until his retirement in 2001. The Nigerian Student Loans Board and the Nigerian Education Bank were focused on providing educational loans to Nigerian youths.
He was initially called out of retirement by then President Olusegun Obasanjo to serve as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Youth Affairs from March 2001 to May 2007.
In 2002, Prof. Chuta established Misec International, which served as an information technology consulting firm that also provided internet access for Nigerian youths in the local community.
The late former deputy vice chancellor is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dr. (Mrs.) C. R. Chuta; five children, eleven grandchildren, a great-grandchild; two sisters, and a brother.
