Former FUT Minna VC, Prof. Daniya, dies at 72

A former Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Mohammed Abubakar Daniya, has died.

He died at the age of 72 on Friday night in Minna, after a brief illness.

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Professor Daniya was also a one time Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Bida and Acting Vice-Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State.

In a condolence message, the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, described the late Professor of physics as an outstanding, highly respected academic who has enormously contributed to the development of education in the state and country as a whole.

He said the state had lost one of its academic trailblazers, erudite scholar and university administration whose lifetime accomplishments and intellectual prowess are enviable and would remain indelibly priceless in the annals of the state.

“We are grieved. It’s a huge, painful and irreplaceable loss to the state and country indeed.

“Late Professor Daniya was a man of demonstrable integrity and discipline who strived to achieve excellence and protect the interest of the tertiary institutions he managed as Vice-Chancellor and Rector respectively,” Governor Bello said.

Governor Bello said the former University Don would be greatly missed for his administrative astuteness, especially during his time as the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida; Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, (FUT) Minna and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, (IBBUL) Lapai as well as the Chairman, Governing Council of the State College of Education (COE), Minna.

The Governor prayed to Allah to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss, grant his soul eternal rest and admit him in Aljannah Firdausi.

Late Professor M.A. Daniya, one of Nigeria’s foremost Geophysicist, was an outstanding academic jewel and an administrator who worked as a lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) and the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna as well as the Department of Physics, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.

The deceased was appointed Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida (1991-1997) and became the 3rd Vice-Chancellor of FUT MINNA (1997-2002).

He was also a one-time Vice-Chancellor of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL), Lapai.

He was appointed Chairman Governing Council of the State College of Education (COE) Minna from 2012-2016, and later a visiting Professor to the National University Commission (NUC).

Born on June 15, 1950, in Bida, Niger State, late Professor Daniya was a University administrator, educator and researcher who has participated in drafting critical blueprints for salvaging science and technical education in the country.