PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
One of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees, Prof. Joseph Utsev (Benue State), was grilled by the Senate at the ministerial screening on Monday, following an age disparity spotted in his certificate.
The controversy started after a Lagos lawmaker, Sen.Tokunbo Abiru, discovered that the nominee in his certificate stated that he was born in 1980 and finished secondary school in 1989.
The Senator pointed out that according to his Curriculum Vitae, he was born in 1980 and started Primary School three years after in 1984, and finished secondary school in 1989.
According to Abiru, something must have been missing.
However, Benue lawmaker, Sen. Abba Moro, came to Utsev’s defense after the Senate President GodsWill Akpabio called on him to speak up as they were likely to be classmates.
Akpabio said: “He was three years old when he started his primary education. He finished six years later. He was the classmate of Abba Moro, let us also see if he (Moro) started primary school at age three.”
In his defence, Sen. Moro, noted that it was a typographical error stating that the nominee was very notable.
He said: “The discrepancy probably came from a typographical error. Let us give him the benefit of the doubt. He has sufficiently discharged himself and he should be asked to take a bow and go.”
The Benue caucus also noted that they were in support of Utsev, stating that it was a minor error that should not rub him of his qualification.
Utsev, thereafter, answered questions on water resources asked by Senators Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara West) and Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), and was thereafter asked to take a bow and go.
Meanwhile, here are some things you should know about Prof.Joseph Utsev.
Joseph Utsev was born into Utsev Akaa family of Mbaakura, Mbagen in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.
He is a well-known academic, politician, philanthropist, businessman, and administrator.
He received his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, in 2004 and graduated as the top student with a 2nd Class Honours Upper Division grade.
The remarkable engineer is also an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated in 2007 with a Masters in environmental engineering and a Doctorate in Water Resources respectively.
Utsev has about 17 years of teaching and professional experience, and has published about 40 important national and international journals.
In 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved his appointment to the position of Executive Director Engineering at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority in Makurdi.
During his brief employment with the Authority, he oversaw the construction of various dams, bridges, roads, boreholes, drainages, and other engineering projects. He oversaw the engineering group as well.
He is currently working to transform the Federal Polytechnic Wannune in Benue State into a world-class facility that would address the academic, professional, and employment challenges that the area, as well as all of Nigeria are currently facing.
He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Entrepreneurs.
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