Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State, Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu, is dead.
He was a distinguished Nigerian Professor of Medicine who has held significant positions in several universities, including the UNN, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, and the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID). He was the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria.
A statement issued by Borno Elders Forum through its Secretary, Dr. Bulama Gubio, on Monday, announced the death of the Northern Nigeria’s first Professor of Community Health on Monday.
Prof. Shehu, who died at the age of 97, was the founder of the Kanem Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation and a co-founder of the Borno Elders Forum.
Prof. Shehu was born on December 8, 1930 in Maiduguri in the old Borno Province and now present Borno State. He attended Elementary School in Maiduguri from 1935-1940; Middle School, Maiduguri 1941-1943; Kaduna College, Kaduna 1944-1947; University College Ibadan 1948-1953; and was at the University of Liverpool between 1953-1956, and 1966-1967.
Professor Shehu received a Bachelor of Medicine degree from the University of London. He also received a fellowship from the Institute of Cancer Research, and he was the Editor-in-Chief of the British Medical Journal.
The statement added that Prof. Shehu will be buried this Monday in his residence at Old GRA, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.