Former president, Muhammadu Buhari, has joined the family, friends and the nation in mourning a former vice chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Nuhu Omeiza Yaqub, who died yesterday, describing him as a towering intellectual giant.
In a tribute to the pioneer vice chancellor of the Sokoto State University, Sokoto, the former president said Professor Yaqub had left an indelible mark on the nation’s intellectual landscape through his works in teaching and research.
“I have known him for many years as a towering scholar whose knowledge, passion, and insights on public policy were taken very seriously by serious administrators. He was a scholar par excellence. May Allah grant him Aljannah,” a statement from his spokesman Garba Shehu said.
Similarly, the director general, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, expressed deep condolences on the passing of Prof. Yaqub, who was the chairman of the Institute’s Academic Advisory Board.
In a statement, Prof. Sulaiman described the death of Prof. Yaqub as shocking and devastating.
He described Prof. Yaqub as a renowned scholar who played a pivotal role in advancing education and research in Nigeria. Prof. Yaqub’s dedication and expertise, he noted, had left an indelible mark on the intellectual development of the nation, influencing countless students and policymakers.
Prof. Sulaiman lamented that the highly accomplished scholar and political scientist exited the stage at a time when his vast experience and knowledge would have been invaluable.
He described the loss as a personal one, adding that Kogi State had lost an illustrious academic.
He extended his condolences to Prof. Yaqub’s wife, children, and family, as well as the government and people of Kogi State, academic institutions and the university community across the country.
Prof. Sulaiman prayed for God to grant the deceased eternal rest in Aljanat Firdaus and to give his family, colleagues, and all who mourn him the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
