The National Secretariat of Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA) has received the devastating news of the passing of a most distinguished and illustrious member of our Board of Trustees and, until now, one of the oldest surviving members of the Association, Emeritus Professor Umaru Shehu (B.496).
AVM Ibrahim Shafii (B.7388), in a statement on behalf of BOBA, described the death of Prof. Shehu as a great loss to the country.
The statement is reproduced below:
On behalf of the Chairman of the BOBA Board of Trustees (BOT), His Excellency , General Yakubu Gowon, GCFR (B.783) , and other members of the BOT, Body of Patrons, the National Executive Committee and entire membership of BOBA , we hereby convey our deepest condolences to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the World Health Organisation, His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, CFR, and the entire good people of Borno State, on the demise of a colossus, a global icon and a legend of community health medical practice, a Professor of Emeritus Professors, an accomplished pan Nigerian administrator of universities and an elder statesman per excellence, late Emeritus Professor Umaru Shehu (B.496), CFR.
The late Professor was admitted into the then Kaduna College in February 1944 and graduated in 1947. His foundational background in science from the college propelled him to further pursue his education among the pioneer medical students of northern origin at the University College Hospital Ibadan in 1948. He further attended the Liverpool University in the UK, among other international medical institutions, which enabled him attain the zenith of international medical scholarship, with profound reputation as professor emeritus in community health.
Throughout his career and life as a dedicated teacher, provost of medical schools, Vice or Pro Chancellor of several Nigerian universities , Chairman of Health Management Boards, visiting professor to international medical schools, a staff, consultant or representative of the the World Health Organisation, the late Professor was an embodiment of peace, purity and probity, an ever shining and guiding light , a personification of humility, simplicity, morality, modesty and selflessness. He was an exemplary leader whose deeply rooted values served as great inspiration that shaped the lives of an uncountable youths that he mentored, especially in the many public institutions he served or administered.
The death of the Emeritus Professor is a painful and monumental loss to BOBA. He was one of our greatest father figures who consistently identified with , led, guided, supported and was ever ready to do anything BOBA required of him. His passing at a graceful age of 92 years is indeed an unquantifiable loss of a great leader of the association. His indeed was “A Life of Sacrifice ” as was the title of his biography by Abdulrahman I. Sade.
We extend our condolences to his immediate family, especially Mahmoud Shehu (B.3361) and Musa Shehu (B.4267 ), who are also our members. We pray to the Almighty Allah to grant the entire family the fortitude to bear with the reality of this irreplaceable loss. We also pray Allah to overlook and forgive the human failings, have mercy on the soul and handsomely reward the good deeds of late Emeritus Professor Umaru Shehu (B.496) with seamless admittance to aljannatul firdaus.
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