The nation of Nigeria is in mourning following the demise of its first Emeritus Professor, Umaru Shehu, at the age of 97. This news was shared in a statement released by Dr Bulama Gubio, the Secretary of the Borno Elders Forum, on Monday in Maiduguri.
Regarded as a distinguished Professor of Medicine, Shehu passed away in the early hours of Monday, leaving a legacy that will forever be etched in the country’s history. He was a trailblazer who played a pivotal role in the fields of community medicine and medicine as a whole.
Dr Bulama Gubio expressed his deep condolences and acknowledged Professor Shehu’s invaluable contributions to society. “We regret to announce the demise of our founding father of both the Kanem Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation (KBHCF) as well as the BEF,” he stated. “Professor Emeritus Umaru Shehu, CFR, Dr Shettima Ali Monguno, and Maina Ibrahim Damcida were the founding fathers of BEF.”
Professor Shehu’s passing marks the end of an era, as he was the last surviving founder of the aforementioned organizations. His immeasurable impact and wisdom will be greatly missed. Dr Bulama Gubio concluded his statement with a prayer: “May Allah have mercy upon them.”
Umaru Shehu’s illustrious career included serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 1978 to 1980. Throughout his professional journey, he held visiting professorships in prestigious institutions around the world, such as the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, United States, where he taught from 1976 to 1977.
Furthermore, Professor Shehu was a founding fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, the West African College of Physicians, the Nigerian Academy of Science, and the Faculty of Community Medicine in Nigeria. His remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to the field of medicine earned him the esteemed titles of Honorary Consultant Physician in 1991 and Professor Emeritus in 2000.
