Ochapa Onazi

Ochapa Onazi was former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos (1985–1989), former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano (2000–2004), former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Benue State University, Makurdi (1996–2004) and former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Plateau State University, Bokkos (2006–2007). Until his death, he was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Karl Kumm University, Vom. Professor Onazi was a recipient of several fellowships, including the FAO/UNDP Desert Locust Project, Tehran (1966), the FAO/UNDP Desert Locust Project, London, Morocco and Senegal (1966), the UK Technical Assistance Fellowship for the M.Sc. programme at Imperial College, London (1966–1967), the USAID Fellowship from Kansas State University for the Ph.D. Programme (1971–1973) and the British Council Visitorship to various agricultural institutions in the UK (1975 and 1984). Ochapa Onazi was also the General Editor of the 'Macmillan Intermediate Agriculture Series', London and Basingstoke: Macmillan Publishers Limited and Co-Editor (with Anthony Youdeowei and Fred Ezedinma) of the Introduction to Tropical Agriculture, London: Longman Publishing Group, 1986. ==Career==

Ochapa Onazi was a foundational member of staff of the National Agricultural Extension Research Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. With late Alhaji Imrana Yazidu, Professor Ango Abdullahi and others, they established the Extension Research Liaison Services (ERLS), which later metamorphosed into the NAERLS. After serving as an extension entomologist at the NAERLS, Onazi became the Deputy Director and substantive Director of the Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC) in 1973 and 1974 respectively. He held that position for ten years until his appointment as the Provost of the Makurdi Campus of the University of Jos in Benue State following the merger of the defunct Federal University of Technology, Makurdi in 1984 with the University of Jos by the Federal Government. In a career that spans over 40 years, Onazi carried out several important national and international assignments. He was Member of the Board of National Electric Power Authority (1976–1980); Co-ordinator of Memorandum of Understanding with Kansas State University on the graduate training of mature students from the Ministries of Agriculture in the Northern States of Nigeria (1973–1984); Chairman of the Task Force on the Establishment of Vocational Training Centres in Benue State (1978–1980); Editorial Advisor to Popular Technology Magazine, Published by WENCA Co. Ltd., London; Chairman of the World Bank Agricultural Education Project, Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos (1986–1988); Leader of the Presidential Monitoring Team on Final Comprehensive Inspection (FCI) of Landing Jetties constructed by DFRRI in Rivers State (July–August 1990), FAO Consultant in Agricultural Extension Training, Republic of Uganda (November–December 1990); Leader of the Presidential Monitoring Team on FCI of Rural Feeder Roads Phase II constructed by DFRRI in Rivers State (February–March 1991); FAO Consultant in Agricultural Extension, Republic of Uganda (January–March 1991); Technical Advisor FGN/UNDP Project in on-farm crop storage, crop storage unit Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan (1993–1997); and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the establishment of Nasarawa State University, appointed by the Governor of Nasarawa State (May 2000). ==References==