Connect with us

News

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihin raji’un. Professor Umar Shehu just passed away at Maiduguri. May Allah SWT forgive his shortcomings

Published

on

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihin raji’un. Professor Umar Shehu just passed away at Maiduguri. May Allah SWT forgive his shortcomings

PROF UMARU SHEHU :

Abstract:

Professor Umaru Shehu is a Nigerian Professor of Medicine and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a Professor Emeritus, Community health, University of Maiduguri and former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science. Professor Umaru received a Bachelor of Medicine degree, MBBS from the University of London. He also received a fellowship of the Institute of Cancer Research and he is the editor-in-chief of the British Medical Journal.

Full History:

Professor Umaru Shehu was born on December 8, 1930 in Maiduguri, Nigeria. He attended Elementary School, Maiduguri 1935-1940; Middle School, Maiduguri 1941-1943; Kaduna College, Kaduna 1944-1947; University College Ibadan 1948-1953; and was at the University of Liverpool between 1953-1956, and 1966-1967. Professor Shehu holds MBBS (London), IRCF (London), MRCS (England), DPH (Liverpool), FMCPH, MFCM, FFCM (UK), FFCM (Nigeria), FAS, FWACP, DFMC (Nigeria).

Professor Shehu started working as a Pre-registration House Surgeon, Southport Infirmary, United Kingdom in 1957. He came back to the Government of Northern Nigeria as Pre-registration House Physician that same year, and was promoted Medical Officer 1957-1963; Senior Medical Officer 1963-1965; Principal Medical Officer 1965-1966; Assistant Chief Medical Officer 1966-1967; Chief Medical Officer (Preventive Services Division) 1967-1968.

Professor Shehu was then redeployed to North-Eastern State as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Chief Medical Officer, an offer he declined only to move on to Ahmadu Bello University to take up appointment as Reader and Acting Head of Department of Community Medicine 1968-1970; Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medicine 1968-1970; Acting Director, Institute of Health 1969-1970; Professor of Community Medicine 1970; Head of Department of Community Medicine 1970-1978; Director, Institute of Health 1970-1977; Deputy Vice Chancellor 1975-1976; Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) 1977-1978.Professor Shehu held visiting professorships in various universities, including the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA 1976-1977.

He was appointed Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 1978-1980. He also worked with the World Health Organization as Short Term Consultant (Working Group on Health Services and Manpower Development Mechanism) in Geneva, September 1970; Appointed Temporary Adviser, October 1970; Short Term Consultant, 1971-1973; Consultant (Technical Discussions), 24th WHO Regional Committee for Africa 1974; National WHO Program Coordinator/Representative in Nigeria 1980-1985; Director, WHO Sub-Regional Health Development Office 111, 1985-1989; WHO Representative to Ethiopia, 1990.At the University of Maiduguri, Professor Shehu was appointed Honorary Consultant Physician since 1991 to date, and became Professor Emeritus in 2000.

He was also the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences 1991-1993; and Sole Administrator of the University of Maiduguri 1993-1994. At the University College Hospital Ibadan, he was the Chairman, Board of Management 1991-1994. At Bayero University, Kano, he was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council 1993-1996, and also Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University of Lagos 1996-1999.He has held memberships and offices in several committees, councils, panels and commissions at both national and international levels.

He was President of Medical Schools in Africa 1973-1975; and External Examiner in Public Health at the University of Ghana Medical School. He is the current Chairman Board of Governors of the STOPAIDS organization; Chairman Governing Board of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA); Patron Guild of Medical Directors; Patron Nationwide Network for Health; Patron Nigerian Medical Forum of Great Britain and Ireland; Patron Nigerian Institute of Stress; Trustee National Foundation on VVF; Member Board of Trustees, Nigerian Tuberculosis and Leprosy Association; Member Editorial Board, West African Medical Journal; Consulting Editor, the Nigerian Medical Practitioner; Editorial Adviser, the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal; Joint Editor-in-Chief, British Medical Journal (West Africa) Edition.

Apart from holding active memberships of Professional bodies as the Nigerian Medical Association, The Society of Health (Nigeria), Science Association of Nigeria, Association of Community Physicians of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Academy of Science, Professor Shehu is also a Foundation Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; Foundation Fellow of the West African College of Physicians; Foundation Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science; and Foundation Fellow of the Faculty of Community Medicine (Nigeria).

Professor Umaru Shehu is mentioned in Who is Who in the world; Men of Achievement; Dictionary of International Biography; Africa Year Book 1977—Who is Who in Africa; Who is Who in Nigeria; and A Dictionary of African Biography.
He holds Honorary Doctor of Science Degrees of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In 1979, the Government of Nigeria awarded him the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and in 2000 he was awarded the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).

He is married with children.

Final Words:

I wish to say thank you all for reading this and my other previous articles and posts. At this point I would like to use this opportunity to thank everybody and With this I conclude my final postings on Facebook today 10/11/2016.

In case you need me for any positive response to a critical question just click here: Ali Alhaji and leave a message.

Good bye all and remain very blessed.

Yours faithfully

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihin raji’un. Professor Umar Shehu just passed away at Maiduguri. May Allah SWT forgive his shortcomings

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested

Published

on

Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested

By: Zagazola Makama

A violent confrontation among rival youths in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga, Minna, Niger State, resulted in the death of one person and the arrest of several others, security sources confirmed on Saturday.

According to sources, on Friday at about 8:00 p.m., a group of youths armed with dangerous weapons were sighted causing havoc along David Mark Road. Security operatives quickly intervened and dispersed the group.

However, at about 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, the same group engaged in a violent clash among themselves using matchets and daggers. Twelve suspects, including Ibrahim Musa, Abbah Hussaini, Babangida Gambo, and Abubakar Bala, were arrested, by the police and their weapons recovered.

Later at about 8:30 a.m., Bello Mohammed of Farm Centre, Tunga Minna, was found lying in a pool of blood. He was rushed to General Hospital Minna but was confirmed dead on arrival.

Sources said that preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was among the suspected thugs terrorizing residents in the area.

Violent clash in Sabon-Titi area of Tunga Minna leaves one dead, several arrested

Continue Reading

News

Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state

Published

on

Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state

By: Zagazola Makama

A 25-year-old Fulani man, Yakubu Salisu of Tenti village, Bokkos Local Government Area, was killed in a violent attack, while six cows were poisoned in a separate incident in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State on Saturday, authorities confirmed.

According to sources , Salisu was stabbed at the back by yet-to-be-identified assailants suspected to be locals of Bokkos. He died instantly at the scene.

Before the attack, a farmer, Josiah Joshua, 28, said he reportedly confronted six herders rearing cows on his farm. According to him, herders allegedly refused to remove the animals and attacked Joshua, resulting in injuries.

In retaliation, Joshua mobilized his friends to attack Yakubu Salisu, stabbing him multiple times on his before and killing him instantly.

Local leaders told Zagazola that the claims by some parties suggesting the Fulani victims “invaded farmlands” are false and appear to be an attempt to justify the attacks. Investigations indicate both incidents were unprovoked and targeted.

The police, however stormed the scene, photographed the corps and later released to relatives for burial according to Islamic rites, as the family declined an autopsy. The Authorities said they have commenced investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, in Riyom LGA, six cows were poisoned in Kwi village without any apparent provocation.

Authorities have commenced investigations into both incidents, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

Security officials warned residents to remain vigilant and urged communities to avoid taking the law into their own hands.

These incidents illustrate the rising tensions in Plateau State, drawing attention to the need for swift intervention to prevent escalation of communal violence over farmland disputes.

Young fulani man killed, six cows poisoned in separate farmland incidents in Plateau state

Continue Reading

News

Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS

Published

on

Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS

By: Sunday Oladapo

Leadership in the security sector often reveals itself not through grand speeches or public displays of authority, but through quiet, deliberate decisions that gradually shift systems, culture, and outcomes. Adeola Ajayi’s stewardship of the Department of State Services (DSS) exemplifies this subtle but powerful form of leadership. Though he rarely seeks the spotlight, the changes unfolding under his watch are reshaping the DSS in ways that many insiders describe as the most meaningful transformation the agency has witnessed in years.

From the moment Ajayi assumed office, it was clear he was bringing a different kind of energy—one rooted in discipline, modernization, and strategic silence. Instead of sweeping pronouncements, he focused on strengthening the agency’s foundation: its people, processes, and purpose. And this approach, though understated, is now yielding visible dividends.

Reinvigorating Professionalism and Intelligence Capacity

One of Ajayi’s most significant achievements is the recalibration of the DSS’s intelligence framework. Recognizing that modern threats—from terrorism to cybercrime—require an intelligence service that is both proactive and technologically sophisticated, he initiated targeted reforms to upgrade analytical tools, digital surveillance capacity, and field operations coordination.

Training programs have also been revitalized. Officers are now exposed to global best practices in intelligence gathering, behavioral analysis, cybersecurity, and inter-agency communication. The goal is simple but transformative: build a DSS that can prevent threats before they materialize, rather than merely responding after damage has been done.

Ajayi’s emphasis on data-driven intelligence has contributed to more efficient threat assessment, improved crisis response, and a more agile internal structure that encourages innovation instead of outdated, rigid protocols.

Strengthening Inter-Agency Collaboration

A common weakness in Nigeria’s security architecture has been fragmentation—agencies working in silos, often competing rather than collaborating. Ajayi has worked quietly but effectively to change this dynamic. His leadership has fostered smoother cooperation between the DSS, the police, the military, and other national security institutions.

By prioritizing information-sharing, joint operations, and coordinated strategy development, Ajayi has positioned the DSS as a core driver of national security synergy. This shift may not be flashy, but its impact on operational success is already becoming evident.

Humanizing the Service and Rebuilding Public Trust

For many years, perceptions of the DSS fluctuated between respect and apprehension, largely due to concerns over transparency and human-rights practices. Ajayi has taken deliberate steps to address this by promoting a more professional, rights-conscious operational culture. Officers now undergo enhanced training on ethical conduct, community engagement, and communication.

While the DSS is not—and cannot be—a public-relations-driven institution, Ajayi understands that a modern security service must maintain a level of trust with the citizens it protects. His reforms are gradually helping to redefine the agency’s public interface, balancing its mandate for secrecy with an improved commitment to professionalism and accountability.

Internal Welfare and Institutional Stability

Security agencies perform best when their personnel feel valued, motivated, and well-equipped. Ajayi has strengthened internal welfare systems, ensuring officers receive improved support, clearer career growth opportunities, and the tools they need to perform effectively. This has boosted morale and reduced internal friction—two factors crucial for operational efficiency.

His quiet stabilizing influence has also brought a sense of predictability to DSS operations. Under his leadership, the agency appears more insulated from political turbulence, allowing it to focus squarely on its mandate.

A Leadership Style Rooted in Strategy, Not Spectacle

In a time when some leaders rely on bravado or theatrics to appear effective, Ajayi stands out for his disciplined restraint. His philosophy seems guided by a fundamental principle: a security agency’s success is measured in outcomes, not headlines. The calmness of his leadership style has enabled him to pursue reforms without unnecessary noise, distractions, or politicization.

And this may be the true hallmark of his impact—delivering change through consistency rather than controversy.

Looking Ahead: A Long-Term Blueprint for the DSS

If the momentum of Ajayi’s reforms is sustained, the DSS could emerge as a more modern, reliable, and globally respected intelligence service. His agenda sets a foundation for:

A culture of professionalism over patronage

A stronger intelligence-driven approach to national security

A more integrated and collaborative security environment

A service that balances secrecy with lawful, ethical conduct

A stable institution that prioritizes national interest above all else

His leadership demonstrates that meaningful reform does not always come with fanfare. Sometimes, it comes quietly—through silent changes that produce big, enduring impact.

In transforming the DSS with such strategic subtlety, Adeola Ajayi is not only redefining the institution but also showing that a new era of thoughtful, modern security leadership is both possible and already taking shape.
Sunday Oladapo is a public analysts from Abuja

Silent Changes, Big Impact: Adeola Ajayi’s Transformation of the DSS

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights