Posted by From AKIN ALOFETEKUN/Minna on
One-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Shehu Musa is dead. The late technocrat passed away in a London hospital on Wednesday. Arrangements are in top gear by the family and the Niger State government to convey his remains back to Nigeria for burial.
One-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Shehu Musa is dead. The late technocrat passed away in a London hospital on Wednesday. Arrangements are in top gear by the family and the Niger State government to convey his remains back to Nigeria for burial.
The deceased, who held the traditional title of Makaman Nupe was a graduate of the nation's premier university, University of Ibadan where he read Mathematics.
He was at a time the head of the Customs Service in Nigeria and also the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC).
Born on January 16, 1935 in Bida, Niger State, he had his early education in Bida South Elementary School between 1943 and 1947. He later moved to Bida Middle School in 1948. Between 1949 and 1954 he was at the Zaria Secondary School and later attended Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria where he stayed from 1955 to 1957.
After his high school at the College of Arts, Science and Technology, Musa moved to the University College, Ibadan for the pursuit of his university education and was there till 1960.
At the completion of studies at the University College Ibadan, he moved to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis United States and was there from 1962 to 1963.
In 1960, Musa joined the Nigerian Civil Service as auditor and was later promoted senior auditor, senior assistant secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance.
In 1965, he was administrative secretary, Board of Customs and Excise and from 1967 to 1971 he was deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Defence, a position he held till 1971 when he was named Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health.
From 1974 to 1978, Musa was seconded as director, Department of Customs and Excise and later Governor World Bank.
After holding the position of Governor World Bank between 1979 and '83, Musa was appointed Governor OPEC Special Fund.
He was also concurrent Chairman Board of Management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He was also Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Task Force on Tax Administration.
He was appointed Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC) in 1988.
He holds the national honours of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).