…Tinubu mourns
Nigeria’s first Emeritus Professor and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, Enugu State, Umaru Shehu, has died at the age of 97.
This was announced in a statement by the Secretary of the Borno Elders Forum (BEF), Dr. Bulama Gubio, yesterday, in Maiduguri. The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka was also Northern Nigeria’s first Professor of Community Health.
Prof. Shehu, who was a co-founder of the BEF, was the founder of the Kanem-Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation. He was also Professor Emeritus, Community Health, University of Maiduguri and former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science.
Gubio said that Shehu, a distinguished Professor of Medicine, died in the early hours of yesterday. “We regret to announce the demise of our founding father of both Kanem Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation (KBHCF) as well as the BEF.
“Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu, (CFR), Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno and Maina Ibrahim Damcida were the founding fathers of BEF; all three have now left us. He was the last of the titans; May Allah have mercy upon them. May Allah have mercy upon our foremost professor of community medicine, and a global giant in the field of medicine”, Gubio further stated.
President Bola Tinubu, in a press statement issued yesterday, expressed shock and deep sadness over the passing into glory of the foremost Nigerian educationist and one of the pioneer medical doctors from Northern Nigeria.
“Emeritus Professor Shehu was a giant, even among that legendary generation of pioneering indigenous professionals in our country, and the story of his life is saturated with many first, golden steps across the realms of medical practice, school administration, and humanitarian services.
“The renowned Professor of Medicine has always served Nigeria meritoriously and bestowed on all Nigerians a sense of pride with his indelible breakthroughs and innovative approaches to the administration of health and medical education around the world. Nigeria was indeed blessed to have him as both a patriotic son and as a worthy global representative in his fields of endeavour”, the President stated.
