Nigeria Bids Farewell to Professor Jibril Aminu
Abuja, June 6, 2025 – Nigeria mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished intellectuals and public servants, Professor Jibril Muhammad Aminu, who passed away on June 5, 2025, at the age of 85. His death was confirmed by family members and state officials, including Abdullahi Adamu Prambe, Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development in Adamawa State.
Professor Aminu’s funeral prayer was held at the Abuja National Mosque, followed by the transportation of his remains to Yola and then to his hometown in Song Local Government Area, Adamawa State, for burial.
A Life of Academic Excellence and Public Service
Born on August 25, 1939, in Song, Adamawa Province, Aminu was a renowned professor of cardiology and a celebrated medical scholar. He graduated as the best student from the University College Hospital, Ibadan, earning his M.B.B.S in 1965, and later obtained a PhD in Medicine from the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, in 1972.
His academic career included roles as Consultant, Senior Lecturer, and Sub-Dean at the University of Ibadan Medical School, Visiting Professor at Howard University College of Medicine in the United States, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri from 1980 to 1985. He also served as a Professor of Medicine at the University of Maiduguri until 1995.
Distinguished Political and Diplomatic Career
Beyond academia, Aminu served Nigeria with distinction in various high-profile roles:
- Minister of Education and later Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (1989–1992) under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
- Nigerian Ambassador to the United States (1999–2003), strengthening bilateral relations during a critical period.
- Senator representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District (2003–2011).
- Delegate to the National Constitutional Conference (1994–1995).
- President of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation in 1991 and President of the OPEC Conference between 1991 and 1992.
He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2002 and received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Ahmadu Bello University in 1988.
Legacy and Controversies
Professor Aminu’s legacy is marked by his contributions to medicine, education, diplomacy, and governance. However, his tenure was also associated with controversial decisions, such as the expulsion of student activists during his time as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and his role in banning the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in 1986.
Despite these controversies, many remember him as a dedicated patriot and a silent reformer whose work shaped Nigeria’s higher education and energy sectors.
Tributes and Condolences
President Bola Tinubu described Aminu as “a brilliant academic and exemplary public servant,” praising his intellect and dedication. The President extended heartfelt condolences to the family and the people of Adamawa State, emphasizing the profound national loss.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri called Aminu “a towering figure in Nigeria’s intellectual and political landscape” and prayed for eternal rest for the departed.
Colleagues, students, and Nigerians across the country have expressed deep sorrow, celebrating Aminu’s enduring impact on Nigeria’s development.
9737qv
jt98s1
im95g9