Former Vice-Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi Professor Buba Garegy Bajoga is dead.
Bajoga a renowned academic engineer and elder statesman died on Thursday in the United Kingdom at the age of 88.
The late professor was a highly accomplished engineer and educator whose academic career spanned several decades.
He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in 1968 and later earned a PhD from the State University of New York in 1972.
Bajoga rose through the academic ranks at ABU before becoming a Professor of Electrical Engineering in 1984.
He later played a key role in the development of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi where his contributions were instrumental to the institution attaining autonomous status.
The late academic served two terms as Vice-Chancellor of ATBU between 1984 and 1994 and also chaired the Committee of Vice-Chancellors.
Beyond the university system Bajoga made notable contributions to Nigeria’s telecommunications and engineering sectors.
He held several national appointments including Director and Managing Director positions at Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and also served in different capacities at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
Reacting to his death Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya described Bajoga as “an academic of international repute a disciplined educator and an illustrious son of Gombe State who devoted his life to scholarship public service and national development.”
In a statement issued by his spokesman Ismaila Uba Misilli the governor recalled the deceased’s service to Gombe State particularly his role as Chairman of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions in 2020.
Yahaya noted that the committee’s report “provided direction and added momentum to the ongoing repositioning of tertiary education in the state under his administration.”
“Prof Bajoga was a man of exceptional intellect integrity and uncommon commitment to national service. His counsel experience and patriotism greatly strengthened our efforts to reform and reposition tertiary education in Gombe State,” the governor said.
He added that the late scholar would be remembered for his humility discipline and commitment to education engineering and national development.
Governor Yahaya also extended condolences to the family of the deceased the academic community and others affected by his death.
“We pray that Almighty Allah in His infinite mercy forgives his shortcomings and rewards his good deeds with Aljannatul Firdaus.”
