By Oliver Okpala
Atu Ausaji Ayuk, a Professor of Ruminant Nutrition, has gone home to be with the Lord.
Being an outstanding Chartered Chemist and Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria, member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, IUPAC, a Professor of Quantum Organic Chemistry and a great author, his death is indeed a great loss not only to his friends and family, but to Nigeria in general and the black continent as a whole.
His death at this time, when the younger generation needed to drink deep from his wealth of vast knowledge, is indeed heartbreaking.
Professor Ayuk’s life and story was that of sheer hard work, dedication and resilient focus as his academic and professional journey was one of a steady rise.
Professor Atu Ausaji Ayuk who exited this mortal world on the 1st of March, 2025 at the age of 80 bagged a Bachelor of Agriculture from the prestigious University of Calabar in 1992.
He then went for post graduate studies at the University of Ibadan where he obtained his Master of Science in 1997 and Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Biochemistry Nutrition and Ruminant Nutrition in 2003.
He joined the University of Calabar, Department of Animal Science as an Assistant Lecturer in 1999 and became a Professor of Ruminant Nutrition in 2014 where he rose to the Deanship of the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management.
He was a 2014 Fellow of the Korean International Cooperation Agency and a delegate to the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation conferences in Kenya 2011 and Rwanda 2014.
He was a member of the global ICT4 Agric group and was widely travelled as he attended international conferences in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States of America.
He was a registered Animal Scientist of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, member of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria and other professional bodies.
Professor Ayuk was among a select group of stakeholders who drafted The Future now: Cross River State in the next 50 years document in 2017.
He was a member of the Biotechnology Committee of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, 2010-2013.
He was a STEP-B grant Implementer and an awardee of 2016 TETFUND institution based research grant.
He served as chairman for Radiography and the Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA). He had served as the Chairman of the Departmental Lecture series committee and HOD between 2011and 2013.
Being the father in law of Chief Emma Eneukwu, OFR, Deputy National Chairman South, All Progressives Congress (APC), the National leadership of the party has expressed heartfelt condolences to Chief Eneukwu and his entire family.
His death came to many as a huge shock and with pain, given the testimonies they have witnessed and heard about his good life.
Papa Ayuk was indeed an outstanding scholar, a cerebral lecturer who taught in several universities in Nigeria and beyond.
In September 2021, while delivering the 99th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Calabar, Professor Ayuk urged governments at all levels to invest more in research and quality education as a way of defeating the myriads of challenges confronting the nation.
Professor Ayuk described insecurity, corruption and climactic change as a major threat against agriculture.
According to him, “Political will is an essential tool to fight corruption and mismanagement in the country.
The distinguished scholar Ayuk also called for enabling policies that support the welfare, rural development and genuine co-operatives, which should be funded and not used for carting away funds or just for the purpose of statistics.
Professor Ayuk carried out extensive research works on feed cost reduction, biotechnology, legume supplementation, fibrous waste utilisation for improved ruminant nutrition, among others.
His commitment to the Christian life was exemplary and inspiring. Beyond being a Pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God and happily married, he was a leader’s leader, a core family man, a father and grandfather.
The entire family should take solace in the fact that Daddy, as he was fondly called lived a robust and fulfilled life.
Many are particularly thrilled that he left his imprints in very solid writings in his books, that would continue to nourish humanity with his fountain of knowledge and dexterity.
No doubt we will indeed miss him but we know that as a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death.
And as the great Cicero said: “The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living.”
Adieu Prof!
• Okpala writes from Abuja.