Pantami Mourns Former ICICE Boss Dr. Kabiru Kabo, Hails Him as a ‘Mentor to Many’
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has expressed deep grief following the passing of Dr. Kabiru Usman Kabo, the Director General of the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education (ICICE).
Dr. Kabo, a distinguished scholar and administrator, passed away at his home in Manchester, England, on the evening of Saturday, December 20, 2025. His funeral is scheduled to take place today, December 21, 2025, in Manchester.
In a moving tribute, Professor Pantami shared details of a final visit to the deceased’s home in Manchester alongside his family and associates from the Nigeria Muslim Forum (NMFUK).
Despite his illness, Professor Pantami noted that Dr. Kabo remained “mentally sound and alert,” engaging in discussions about his health and faith.
“I encouraged him to remain strong. Experts make predictions in their fields of expertise; however, only the Almighty Allah knows our time of passing with 100% accuracy,” Pantami remarked, noting that the late scholar had outlived medical predictions by nearly a year.
Professor Pantami described him as a mentor who remained resilient throughout his illness, putting his trust in divine will.
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The former Minister concluded his tribute with prayers for the repose of Dr. Kabo’s soul, invoking Islamic traditions regarding the relief death brings to a faithful believer.
“Until we arrive, our brother, where we will not be departed again,” he wrote.
An accomplished administrator and scholar; Dr. Usman paraded over three decades of public service experience in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. He was the Assistant Principal for Access and Higher Education at The Manchester College in the United Kingdom, a tertiary institution with over 60,000 students and an income of more than 200 million Pounds. From 2010 to 2018 he served as Director General and CEO at the Nigerian Centre for Management Development (CMD) in Abuja. He later joined the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education Abuja (ICICE) as Director General. In 2008, he served as Technical Adviser to the Minister of National Planning on Social Sector Strategy, Coordination of Vision 20-2020.
Presidential Advisor to President Yar’Adua on the implementation of his Seven-Point Agenda. Dr. Usman was also a Consultant to the European Union on Strategy and Policy Coordination involving Vision 20:2020, and National M&E Framework besides the National Implementation Plan for Nigeria. From 2008-2009 he also served as Technical Adviser to the Minister of Education.
By PRNigeria
