Late Emeritus Umaru Shehu Maiduguri, Northern Nigeria’s First Professor Emeritus of Medicine
NAME: Umaru Shehu
TITLES: Professor Emeritus (CON), (CFR)
SEX: Male
DATE OF BIRTH: 8 December 1930
DATE OF DEATH: 2 October 2023
PLACE OF BIRTH: Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
NATIONALITY: Nigerian
MARITAL STATUS: Married with three children
EDUCATION
Elementary School, Maiduguri (1935–1940)
Middle School, Maiduguri (1941–1943)
Kaduna College (1944–1947)
University College, Ibadan (1948–1953)
University of Liverpool, England (1953–1956)
University of Liverpool, England (1966–1967)
PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND AWARDS
M.B.B.S. (London)
I.R.C.F. (London)
M.R.C.S. (England)
D.P.H. (Liverpool) – Awarded with Distinction
F.M.C.P.H. (Fellow of the Medical Council in Public Health)
M.F.C.M. (UK) – Member of the Faculty of Community Medicine
F.F.C.M. (Nigeria) – Fellow of the Faculty of Community Health
F.F.C.M. (UK) – Fellow of the Faculty of Community Medicine
F.A.S. – Fellow of the Academy of Science
F.W.A.C.P. – Fellow of the West African College of Physicians
Honorary D.Sc. (Ahmadu Bello University)
D.F.M.C. (Nigeria) – Distinguished Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College
Honorary D.Sc. (University of Nigeria, Nsukka)
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS PRESENTED
19 publications and 10 papers presented, mainly in the field of Health.
POSITIONS CURRENTLY HELD
A. UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
Professor Emeritus, University of Maiduguri (2000)
Honorary Consultant Physician, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (1991 to date)
B. NATIONAL BODIES
i) CHAIRMANSHIP
Chairman, Board of Governors, STOPAIDS Organization
ii) PATRONSHIP
Patron, Guild of Medical Directors
Patron, Nationwide Network for Health
Patron, Nigerian Medical Forum of Great Britain and Ireland
Patron, Nigerian Institute of Stress
iii) MEMBERSHIP OF FOUNDATIONS/ASSOCIATIONS/PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Trustee, National Foundation on V.V.F.
Member, Board of Trustees, Nigerian Tuberculosis and Leprosy Association
Member, Editorial Board, West African Medical Journal
Consulting Editor, The Nigerian Medical Practitioner
Editorial Adviser, The Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal
Joint Editor-in-Chief, British Medical Journal (West African Edition)
WORKING EXPERIENCE
1. PRE-REGISTRATION
House Surgeon, Southport Infirmary, United Kingdom (1957)
2. WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN NIGERIA
i. Pre-registration House Physician (1957)
ii. Medical Officer (1957–1963)
iii. Senior Medical Officer (1963–1965)
iv. Principal Medical Officer (1965–1966)
v. Assistant Chief Medical Officer (1966–1967)
vi. Chief Medical Officer, Preventive Services Division (1967–1968)
3. NORTH-EASTERN STATE
Deployed as Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, and Chief Medical Officer, but elected to transfer to Ahmadu Bello University.
4. AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
i. Reader and Acting Head, Department of Community Medicine (1968–1970)
ii. Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medicine (1968–1970)
iii. Acting Director, Institute of Health (1969–1970)
iv. Professor of Community Medicine (1970)
v. Head, Department of Community Medicine (1970–1978)
vi. Director, Institute of Health (1970–1977)
vii. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (1975–1976)
viii. Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (1977–1978)
5. SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL, USA
Visiting Professor (1976–1977)
6. UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
Vice-Chancellor (1978–1980)
7. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) APPOINTMENTS
i. Short-Term Consultant, Working Group on Health Services and Manpower Development Mechanism, Geneva (September 1970)
ii. Temporary Adviser (October 1970)
iii. Short-Term Consultant (May–June 1971)
iv. Short-Term Consultant (October 1972)
v. Short-Term Consultant (October 1973)
vi. Consultant, Technical Discussions, 24th WHO Regional Committee for Africa (1974)
vii. Member, Regional Expert Advisory Panel on Public Health Administration
viii. National WHO Programme Coordinator/Representative in Nigeria (1980–1985)
ix. Director, WHO Sub-Regional Health Development Office III (1985–1989)
x. WHO Representative to Ethiopia (1990)
8. UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI
i. Provost, College of Medical Sciences (1991–1993)
ii. Sole Administrator (1993–1994)
9. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL, IBADAN
i. Chairman, Board of Management (1991–1994)
10. BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
i. Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council (1993–1996)
11. UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS
i. Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council (1996–1999)
Served on 24 national committees, councils, panels, and commissions.
Held offices in 19 national associations and councils.
Served as President, Association of Medical Schools in Africa (1973–1975).
Served as External Examiner in Public Health, University of Ghana Medical School.
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES
Nigerian Medical Association
The Society of Health, Nigeria
Science Association of Nigeria
Association of Community Physicians of Nigeria
Nigerian Academy of Science
NATIONAL HONOURS
i. Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) – 2000
ii. Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) – 1979
OTHER DISTINCTIONS AND HONOURS
Foundation Fellow, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria
Foundation Fellow, West African College of Physicians
Foundation Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Science
Foundation Fellow, Faculty of Community Health (Nigeria)
Featured in: a. Who’s Who in the World
b. Men of Achievement
c. Dictionary of International Biography
d. Africa Year Book 1977 – Who’s Who in Africa
e. Who’s Who in Nigeria
f. A Dictionary of African Biography (1971)
May his soul rest in peace