By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

A foremost diplomat, renowned medical scholar and former Minister of Education and Petroleum, Professor Jibril Aminu, is dead.

A credible family source told News Express that the one-time President of the African Petroleum Producers? Organisation (OPEC) died after a prolonged illness in Abuja today, Thursday, June 5, 2025.

He was aged 85.

Prof. Aminu?s funeral prayer is scheduled for 2.00 p.m. today at Abuja National Mosque.

His remains would subsequently be flown to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, and later to Song Local Government Area, for burial.

A trained cardiologist, Prof. Aminu earned his medical degree from the University of Ibadan in 1965, where he was celebrated as the best graduating medical student at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

He later obtained a PhD in Medicine from the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London in 1972.

He served the country in various distinguished capacities as Nigeria?s Ambassador to the United States (1999?2003), as Senator representing Adamawa Central (2003?2011), and earlier as Federal Minister of Education and later as Federal Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (1989?1992).

He was President of OPEC in 1991 and President of the OPEC Conference between 1991 and 1992 while serving as Petroleum Minister.

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