Vice-President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, led mourners at the funeral prayers for the late elder statesman, former Minister of Education and Petroleum, Prof. Jubril Aminu, at the Abuja National Mosque.

Mr Aminu, a one-time President, African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (OPEC), passed on in Abuja, after a prolonged illness.

The vice president, who commiserated with the family of the deceased, prayed to Allah to comfort them and make Aljanna Firdaus the final abode of deceased.

Mr Shettima said that the demise of Mr Aminu was a great loss to the nation, adding that the late surgeon, educationist and administrator was a man who saw it all.

He said that the deceased was an intellectual giant, who it would be hard to replace.

He added, “It is a very sad loss. Prof Jibril Aminu was the last of the great titans, an iconic figure who enormously contributed to the development of the nation. He was variously the Executive Secretary of NUC, Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and Honourable Minister of various ministries across the country and left his landmarks on the sands of time. He is irreplaceable. May Allah grant him Aljanatul Firdaus and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. His loss is not just to the good people of Adamawa State, but to the nation and Africa at large.”

Born in Song, Adamawa in 1939, Mr Aminu was a towering figure in Nigerian public life.

The late consultant cardiologist served the nation in different capacities, including as federal minister of education and later federal minister of petroleum and mineral resources (1989–1992). He was also an ambassador of Nigeria to the United States (1999–2003), and senator representing Adamawa Central (2003–2011).

(NAN)