The family members and associates of Prof. Nuhu Yaqub have described the death of a former Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja as a big loss to Nigeria and humanity.
They spoke in separate interviews after the final interment of the late don at Gudu Cemetery in Abuja on Saturday.
Yaqub, also the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University, passed on in Abuja on Saturday during a brief illness at the age of 73.
Until his death, Yaqub was Chairman of the Academic Advisory Board of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abuja.
The Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, told NAN that Yaqub was a forthright academic, seasoned administrator, leader and an embodiment of virtues in all ramifications.
He described Yaqub’s demise as personal loss to him, the institute and the country as a whole, saying that he died at a time Nigeria needed him most.
“It is a personal loss to me, as someone who offered me employment almost three decades ago.
“He had been a father to me; he was my mentor, my leader. He was a consummate administrator, a core academic. He was a role model to so many of us.
“Until his demise, he was with me as the chairman of the advisory board of our institute. He had been doing that for the past five years.
“He had added value to what we are doing. So it’s a loss to us at the institute. It is a loss to the National Assembly and the country.
“I do not know who is going to replace him as far as my family is concerned,” he said.
According to him, Yaqub will be remembered for his goods works, including training of many students, mentoring of many scholars and giving hope to the hopeless.
The director-general urged Nigerians to emulate the good character of the late scholar as well as his virtues and dedication to hard work, even at an advanced age of 73.
A former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, also said that Yaqub would be sorely missed.
Jega, who recounted his experiences with the former vice-chancellor, prayed God to reward his good works.
“I knew Prof. Yaqub as a student, subsequently as a lecturer and later as a university administrator.
“We thank God for his life, for his contributions to education and many sectors of our public life; his death is a sad loss and we will definitely miss him.
“I pray God to reward him for all his good works, comfort his wife, his children and the rest of his family; it is a sad loss for our country,” he said.
Also speaking, the second son of the diseased, Mr Yashim Yaqub, said that the family was devastated by the death of their father.
The young Yaqub said that his father’s illness didn’t last for too long, adding, however, that his death was the will of God.
“The memories I will hold unto are the good things people are saying about him. My father was a very humble person; he was a father to all, down to earth and he took on people’s problems as though there were his.
“His selflessness, kindness to people and humility are the memories I will like to stick to. He was my daughter’s best friend; I do not know how they will take it,” the teary son said.