Former Petroleum Minister, Jubril Aminu Is Dead

Jubril Aminu, a respected Nigerian cardiologist, diplomat, and former minister of petroleum and mineral resources, has died at the age of 85.

Jubril Aminu passed away on Thursday, and a funeral prayer (janaza) was held in his honor at the National Mosque in Abuja.

The ceremony drew dignitaries, family members, and members of the public who came to pay their respects.

Aminu was born in August 1939 and began his academic journey at the University of Ibadan, where he earned a medical degree in 1965.

He later completed a PhD in medicine at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London in 1972, the same year he was elected a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science.

In 1980, he was also named a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians, London, and the West African College of Physicians.

From 1974 to 1979, Aminu was the first executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC). His tenure had a lasting impact on Nigeria’s education system.

He was widely credited with being a key figure behind the creation of the 6-3-3-4 education structure, which shaped the country’s approach to learning and vocational training.

Jubril Aminu later served as Nigeria’s minister of education, and in 1989, he was appointed minister of petroleum and mineral resources.

Aminu also played an important role on the international stage. In 1991, he became president of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation and chaired the OPEC conference between 1991 and 1992.

He was named Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States in 1999 and held the position until 2003, during a time of stronger ties between both nations.

After his diplomatic service, Aminu returned to politics and represented Adamawa Central in the Nigerian Senate from 2003 to 2011.

His death marks the end of a long and influential career in medicine, education, politics, and international diplomacy.

KanyiDaily recalls that Oba Shefiu Olatunji Adewale, the Olu of Epe Kingdom, also died at the age of 86.