President Bola Tinubu has described the late Professor Jibril Muhammad Aminu as a true patriot whose contributions to medicine, education, and public service left an indelible mark on Nigeria.
In a condolence message personally signed, President Tinubu extolled the virtues of the renowned cardiologist, former minister, ambassador, and senator who died at the age of 85.
“Professor Jibril Aminu was not just a professor of cardiology; he was one of Nigeria’s most decorated medical professionals and a towering figure in public life,” the President said.
“He straddled the worlds of academia and politics with uncommon brilliance and brought erudition and integrity to every position he held.”
Tinubu noted that the late academic was a fellow of several prestigious medical bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science and the Royal College of Physicians in London.
His career, the President added, was defined by “grit, hard work, and expertise.”
The late Aminu held several distinguished positions in the Nigerian education and health sectors, including serving as Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) from 1975 to 1979 and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri from 1980 to 1985.
He also had an international academic stint as a visiting professor at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., United States.
In government, Aminu was appointed Minister of Education and later served as Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources from 1989 to 1992.
He was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States between 1999 and 2003, and subsequently represented Adamawa Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly from 2003 to 2011.
“He epitomised statesmanship and was deeply committed to building a greater Nigeria,” President Tinubu said.
The President extended his condolences to the family of the late professor and to the people and government of Adamawa State, describing Aminu’s death as a “profound loss to the nation.”
“As we grieve, we must find solace in his legacy. He left remarkable imprints in the sands of time. May he find eternal rest in Aljana Firdaus. And may Allah forgive his sins,” the president concluded.
