By Nkechi Eze
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has expressed profound grief over the passing of former Minister of Education and elder statesman, Professor Jubril Muhammad Aminu, describing him as an “epitome of knowledge” whose contributions spanned the pillars of national development.
In a heartfelt tribute issued on Friday, 6 June 2025, Marwa described the death of Prof. Aminu, who passed away on Thursday, 5 June, at the age of 85, as a monumental national loss, lamenting that his passing leaves behind “a multitude of people grief-stricken in Nigeria and outside the shores of this country.”
“Even at 85, we would have loved to see him live much longer, for many more years, so that Nigeria can continue to benefit from his depth of knowledge and wealth of experience that cuts across critical sectors of human development,” Marwa stated.
The NDLEA boss noted that the late Professor’s footprint of service extended across medicine, education, foreign policy, politics, and the oil industry—sectors where he made indelible marks during his lifetime. According to him, the widespread tributes that have poured in over the past 24 hours are a testament to the far-reaching impact of the former Minister’s career and personal influence.
“The outpour of tributes in the past 24 hours is an indication of Prof. Aminu’s far-reaching influence and impact across various spheres of life, all of which further exacerbated the sense of loss for Nigerians,” Marwa said.
Despite the sense of bereavement, Marwa urged Nigerians to take solace in the celebrated legacy of the late academic and public servant. “Yet, in our state of bereavement, we cannot but celebrate the life and times of an extraordinary man, an epitome of knowledge who, until he passed on, was and is still one of Nigeria’s finest examples in medicine and academics, where he made lasting impacts,” he added.
Reflecting on his personal connection with the late statesman, Marwa recalled shared moments and intersecting paths during their respective periods of national service, noting that both hailed from Adamawa State and shared a deep commitment to the country’s progress.
Prof. Jubril Aminu, a renowned academic, diplomat, and former Minister of Education and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States and represented Adamawa Central in the Senate. His death marks the end of a distinguished era in Nigeria’s intellectual and political history.
