President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the death of former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Idris Abdulkadir.
He sent a condolence message to the bereaved family.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, President Buhari described the Professor of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine as a scholar par excellence and a towering statesman.
“He was a versatile personality and a great scholar,” said the President, adding that the deceased was “blessed with a wealth of scientific knowledge and extremely articulate as well as witty”.
President Buhari paid tribute to the late Abdulkadir for his role in strengthening the country’s university education and the paternalistic role he played in preserving the historic role of his alma mater, Barewa College in Zaria.
The President noted that the deceased left behind an indelible mark on the development trajectory of the nation.
President Buhari will today depart Abuja for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on an eight-day official visit.
The president, who will be accompanied by his aides, will also perform the Lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia.
A statement last night by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to Saudi Arabia on official visit from Tuesday, April 11 to 19, on his last trip to the Kingdom as President, during which he will perform Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage.
“He will be accompanied by his aides.”
