JAMB, UNIABUJA Mourn Pioneer VC Who Never Tolerated ASUU Strike
The pioneer vice-chancellor of University of Abuja and former Vice Chancellor University of Calabar, Professor Isa Baba Mohammed has died.
A Professor of Mathematics and former Chairman of the National Mathematical Centre, Professor Mohammed died on Monday 28th December 2020 after a brief illness.
During his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of Uniabuja between 1988 to 1998, he did not tolerate any strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as he banned such unionism in ensuring stable academic calendar.
Holding a traditional title of Galadiman Ningi, Professor Mohammed was also the Chairman of 5th and 6th Governing Boards of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) between 1988 and 1991.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, has, on behalf of the Governing Council, Senate, Staff and Students of the University of Abuja, commiserated with the family of the pioneer Vice – Chancellor.
In a condolence message by the University’s Head of Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, Professor Na’Allah, said as the pioneer Vice- Chancellor, the late Mohammed laid a solid foundation which successive administrations had built upon to lift the University to its present height.
Describing the death as an irreparable loss to the immediate family of the deceased and entire university community, Professor Na’Allah, stressed that the late professor of Mathematics would be greatly missed.
“Death is inevitable. But when you lose a resourceful and consummate public officer of international standing like this, you are devastated, ” he said, pointing out that, “you cannot discuss the history and growth of this University without recounting the role played by this leader.”
The VC noted that there was however nothing man could do to stave off death once God had decided it was time to recall any of His servant.
According to Professor Na’Allah, but for his death, the late vice Chancellor was still vey much active and ready to give wise counsel that could help lift the University beyond it’s present state.
He prayed that Allah in His Infinite mercies would reward Professor Isa Mohammed with ” aljanah firdaus and give his family the fortitude to bear this painful loss. ”
In a special tribute on the late academic, the Charman Governing Board of JAMB, Dr. Emmanuel Aguzie Ndukwe, MD said he would be fondly remembered for his demonstration of unparalleled passion for the transformation of the Board through his visionary and exemplary leadership as well as his quest for excellence which contributed significantly to the development of the Board.
He said: “Professor Mohammed had always been part of JAMB since inception as he was the representative of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on the first Governing Board in 1977.
“Professor Isa Baba Mohammed was the Chairman of the Board when JAMB’s mandate was expanded to cover the responsibility of the conduct of matriculation examination and admissions to all Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria in 1989, in addition to its original purview on Universities Matriculation Examination and Admissions.
“He also supritended the construction of the JAMB Headquarters in Abuja and the expansion of the Board’s facilities in Kaduna to accommodate the Test Development, the then Research, Monitoring and Evaluation ( now Quality Assurance) Departments and the Zonal Office thereby upscaling the status of the Office to a National Headquarters Annexe.
“With the demise of Professor Isa Mohammed, JAMB has lost one of the major actors of its history, just as the Nation will miss the invaluable contributions of the erudite scholar, leader per excellence and a consummate public officer of high repute and international standing.
“The Governing Board, Management and the entire members of staff express our deepest condolences to the family of this intellectual icon and pray that the Almighty Allah grant him Aljanatul fridaus, Ameen,” he concluded.
Professor Isa Baba Mohammed has since been buried in accordance with Islamic injunctions.
By PRNigeria
