Nigeria’s first Emeritus Professor, Umaru Shehu is dead.
He passed on in the early hours of Monday, October 2, 2023, at the age of 97
A statement by the Secretary of Borno Elders Forum (BEF) Dr Bulama Gubio on Monday in Maiduguri, revealed that Shehu was the founding father of both Kanem Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation (KBHCF) and BEF.
Gubio described the deceased as a distinguished Professor of Medicine.
The statement reads: “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 Allah have mercy upon our foremost professor of community medicine and global giant in the field of medicine.”
Briefly
Late Prof Shehu was born on December 8, 1930 in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He attended Elementary School in Maiduguri between 1935 to 1940; Middle School, Maiduguri from 1941 to 1943; Kaduna College, Kaduna from 1944 to 1947 and University College Ibadan between 1948 to 1953.
Shehu also enrolled at the University of Liverpool between 1953 to 1956 and 1966 to 1967. He bagged a Bachelor of Medicine degree from the University of London.
In addition, he received a Fellowship from the Institute of Cancer Research and was the Editor-in-Chief of the British Medical Journal.
Shehu was the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1978 to 1980. He held visiting professorships in various universities including the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, United States of America from 1976 to 1977.
He was also a foundation Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; West African College of Physicians; Nigerian Academy of Science and Faculty of Community Medicine (Nigeria).
Shehu was appointed Honorary Consultant Physician in 1991 and became Professor Emeritus in 2000.
Until his death, he was Professor Emeritus, Community Health, University of Maiduguri and former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science.