On Return From A Medical Trip Abroad, Fabian Osuji, Former Education Minister, Dies

By Charles Igbo

His death on Wednesday took family and friends unawares. They were at once shocked and surprised. And why not?

Professor Fabian Osuji, a former Minister for Education, had just returned from a medical trip abroad. So everybody had hope of a full recovery. He came back home hale and hearty. And, for his age looked good.

But on Wednesday, February 28, the story changed. The Professor died. He exited mother-earth. Gone with him were his brilliant and fertile mind, his depth of thought and deep knowledge of everything, almost.

According to family sources, Professor Osuji returned from a vacation in the United States on Saturday where he was treated for an undisclosed medical issues.

And, then, suddenly passed a few days after his return.

A solid academic, he was born on January 20, 1942, and attended the best of schools –  Holy Ghost College in Owerri, Government College in Umuahia, the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Enugu State, and the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

His post-doctoral research was at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London.

On return he was appointed a lecturer, Senior Lecturer. He became an Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan in 1973, a post he held till 1981.

Osuji was a “Visiting Scientific Fellow at the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

He became a Dean of the College of Science, Dean of the College of Postgraduate Studies, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and member of the Governing Council of Imo State University.”

He was a Professor of Applied Biology, at St. John’s University, New York (CUNY) USA (1997-1999), and  a Visiting Professor at several universities in Nigeria and worldwide.

Known as a scholars’ scholar, he published 35 papers and books to his credit.

In 1999, he veered into politics. He was appointed the Minister for Education under the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration. But it ended in a not-so-good situation when he was abruptly dropped dropped over an alleged not-too-decent incident.

The cerebral Professor celebrated his 80th birthday in 2022.

A native of Mbaise, Imo State, the erudite Professor died aged 81.