Abuja, Nigeria – July 17, 2025. The academic community of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) has been thrown into deep mourning following the sudden death of one of its revered scholars, Associate Professor Maureen N. Nwala, a senior lecturer in the Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Administration. She passed away peacefully in her Abuja residence in the early hours of Thursday, July 17, 2025.
The news of her death has sent shockwaves through the university community, particularly among postgraduate students in the Faculty of Administration, many of whom had just sat for her course examination BAF 817 – International Business Finance on July 4, 2025, as part of their MSc Finance programme. Her sudden departure has left many speechless as she was actively involved in academic duties just days before her passing.
Associate Professor Maureen N. Nwala was widely regarded as a brilliant academic, a dedicated mentor, and a mother figure to many of her students. Known for her engaging lectures, meticulous academic standards, and compassionate approach to teaching, she inspired generations of students in the fields of banking, finance, and international business. Her intellectual brilliance was matched only by her calm demeanor and a deep sense of responsibility to her students and colleagues.
In an emotional tribute, one of her MSc Finance students, Michael Samuel Idoko, described her as a rare gem.
“Prof. You are one of the best lecturers in our department and we will all miss you, Ma. May your gentle soul rest in peace.”
According to faculty sources, Associate Professor Nwala was committed to excellence, often going above and beyond to ensure that her students understood complex theories in global finance. She was also known to personally mentor many of them, guiding their thesis development and offering professional advice far beyond the classroom.
Her academic contributions, particularly in the areas of international finance and financial strategy, have earned her accolades within and outside the institution. A widely published researcher, she had participated in numerous international conferences and played a key role in curriculum development for postgraduate finance programmes at NSUK.
The Faculty of Administration has described her death as a monumental loss, not only to the Department of Banking and Finance but to the entire academic fraternity in Nigeria. “She was a pillar in our faculty. Her death is devastating. She was due for full professorship, and we were all looking forward to celebrating that milestone with her,” said a senior colleague who asked to remain anonymous.
Students, colleagues, and friends have continued to flood social media platforms and departmental noticeboards with tributes, prayers, and fond memories of the late academic. The university management is expected to release an official statement and announce burial arrangements in collaboration with her family in the coming days.
Her death comes at a time when the university is undergoing a major academic restructuring and growth, of which she was an active participant. It is believed that her absence will leave a significant vacuum, especially in the postgraduate finance programmes.
Associate Professor Nwala is survived by children and other family members, to whom the university and its community extend their deepest condolences.
The legacy of Associate Professor Maureen N. Nwala will forever live on in the hearts of her students, colleagues, and the academic world she so passionately served.
May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
