Ishaya Sha'aibu Audu ((); 1 March 1927 – 29 August 2005) was a Nigerian doctor, professor, and politician.[1] A Kattafawa, Christian, he served as minister of external affairs (foreign minister) from 1979 to 1983 under Shehu Shagari.[2]
Ishaya Audu | |
|---|---|
| Minister of External Affairs of Nigeria | |
| In office 1 October 1979 – 1 October 1983 | |
| President | Shehu Shagari |
| Preceded by | Henry Adefope |
| Succeeded by | Emeka Anyaoku |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ishaya Sha'aibu Audu 1 March 1927 Anchau, British Nigeria |
| Died | 29 August 2005 (aged 78) United States |
| Political party | National Party of Nigeria |
| Spouse |
Victoria Abosede Ohiorhenuan
(m. 1958) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent | Bulus Audu (father) |
| Residence(s) | Zaria, Kaduna State |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
|
Early life, education, and career
editAudu was born on 1 March 1927, in Anchau, a village near Zaria, Kaduna State, to Bulus Audu. Bulus was a farmer-trader who was one of the leading scholars of the Isawa, a radical Islamic sect, in the early 20th-century. He was also one of the earliest Christian converts in Northern Nigeria.[3][4]
Initially educated at St. Bartholomew's School in Wusasa, he moved to Yaba Higher College in Lagos[4] and then to University College, Ibadan (renamed University of Ibadan) in 1948. In 1951, he left for the University of London in England, where he stayed until 1954. In 1955, he studied at the University of Liverpool (also in England). It was in 1958 that he married his wife, Victoria, with whom he would father six children.[5]
Audu lectured in Internal Medicine at the University of Lagos in 1962 and was promoted to the position of Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University in 1966.[5] He had been the personal physician of Ahmadu Bello whom the university is named after.[4] He also travelled to the United States where he was employed as an associate research professor at the University of Rochester, New York, and wrapped up his education at the Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, from 1964 until 1968.[5] Ishaya Audu was the vice presidential candidate of the Nigerian People's Party which had Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as its presidential candidate in the 1979 and 1983 presidential Elections.
Political career
editAudu was a member of the Nigeria Peoples Party when President Shehu Shagari gave Audu the position of Minister of External Affairs in 1979.[5] He also served as Nigeria's Ambassador to the United Nations. After the 1983 overthrow of Shagari's government by General Muhammadu Buhari (and the replacement of the Second Republic with military dictatorship), Audu was detained for a year.[6]
Family
editHe was happily married to Victoria Abosede Ohiorhenuan from Ozalla, Owan West Edo State and they are blessed with six children.[7]
Later life
editAfter his release Audu took up private practice at his own hospital in Samaru; he also founded his own church.[4] He died on 29 August 2005, while in the United States with his son, Paul Audu.[5]
References
edit- ^ Taiwo, Gidado (16 November 2012). "Daily Trust". Retrieved 20 May 2020.
- ^ Chila Andrew Aondofa (30 September 2019). "ISHAYA AUDU: The legacy of Selfless Service". The Abusites. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Linden, Ian. Emirs, Evangelicals & Empire (PDF). pp. 111–220.
- ^ a b c d Ozigi, Albert. "Tribute to prof. Ishaya Audu". Daily Trust Online. Media Trust Nigeria, Limited. Archived from the original on 4 November 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Onyekwere, Joseph (5 September 2005). "A Medical Icon Goes Home". Newswatch Communications. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
- ^ Aluwong, Jeremiah (10 November 2019). "Nigerians in History: Ishaya Shuaibu Audu • Connect Nigeria". Connect Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Admin (16 November 2016). "AUDU, Reverend (Prof) Ishaya Sha'aibu". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 30 May 2020.