A renowned Professor of Medicine and Nigeria’s first Emeritus Professor, Umaru Shehu, has passed away at the age of 97. He was a pioneer in the field of community medicine and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
According to a statement by Dr Bulama Gubio, the Secretary of the Borno Elders Forum (BEF), Shehu died in the early hours of Monday in Maiduguri. Gubio described him as one of the founding fathers of both the Kanem Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation (KBHCF) and the BEF. He said Shehu was the last of the Titans and prayed for Allah’s mercy upon him.
Shehu had a distinguished academic and professional career that spanned several decades and institutions. He was a visiting professor at 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 several prestigious bodies, such as the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; the West African College of Physicians; the Nigerian Academy of Science; and the Faculty of Community Medicine (Nigeria).
Shehu was appointed Honorary Consultant Physician in 1991 and became Professor Emeritus in 2000.
He was a recipient of many awards and honours, including the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2003. He was widely regarded as a mentor, leader, and philanthropist by his colleagues, students, and community.
