Nigeria’s 1st Emeritus Professor, Umaru Shehu dies at 97

Umaru Shehu, who became Nigeria’s first Emeritus Professor in the year 2000 has died at the age of 97.

The Borno Elders Forum, in a statement on Monday in Maiduguri signed by its Secretary, Dr Bulama Gubio, revealed that Shehu, a distinguished Professor of Medicine, died in the early hours of Monday.

The statement read, “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.

“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 All have mercy upon our foremost professor of community medicine and a global giant in the field of medicine.”

Shehu was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 1978 to 1980) and held visiting professorships in various universities, including the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, U.S. from 1976 to 1977.

He was also a foundation fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; a foundation fellow of the West African College of Physicians; a foundation fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science; and a foundation fellow of the Faculty of Community Medicine (Nigeria).

Shehu was appointed Honorary Consultant Physician in 1991 and became Professor Emeritus in 2000.