By Charles K Mark
Administration of the Upper Nile University in Juba has announced that the remains of its vice chancellor, late Prof. Marial Awou Yol, will arrive at Juba International Airport from India today, Friday.
Upper Nile University of South Sudan urged its teaching staff and students in Juba to turn up at Juba International Airport for the reception of the body of the late Professor Awow.
“Therefore, lectures are suspended for Friday and will resume on Saturday, September 23, 2023,” it added.
According to the announcement, after his arrival on Friday, the remains of the late will be taken to Yirol, his hometown, for burial on Saturday.
Dr. Marial Awou Yol passed away in New Delhi, India, on the night of Thursday, September 14, 2023.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit extended his condolences on behalf of the government of South Sudan.
Kiir described Professor Awou as a well-respected scholar who pursued a long academic career with a sense of responsibility and dedication to transform the lives of many South Sudanese in the two public universities of Juba and Upper Nile, respectively.
The government of the Republic of India, Cavendish University, University of Juba and other institutions also extended their condolences.
Biography
After graduating from Gezira University in Sudan with a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours, Division II upper) in 1984, he joined the University of Juba as a teaching assistant in the Department of Economics, College of Social and Economic Studies.
In 1990, he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to undertake studies leading to the award of a Master of Arts degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, in May 1992.
He then returned to Sudan and resumed teaching as a lecturer at the same college.
In December 1997, he received a government-funded scholarship to undertake a course of study leading to a Ph.D. in economics at the University Putra Malaysia (UPM).
In February 2002, he was awarded a Ph.D. in economics. Upon his return to the University of Juba in May 2002, he was appointed an assistant professor in economics. In July 2003, he joined Putra University Malaysia as a contract lecturer in economics.
After spending six years in Malaysia, Prof. Awou joined the World Bank as a senior consultant in monetary and exchange rate policies in May 2009 and was placed at the Central Bank of Sudan.
In 2009, he was appointed as the state minister of finance at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy in the Government of Sudan.
Following the secession of South Sudan, he was appointed deputy finance minister in the first post-independence government of South Sudan.