The embattled Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Andrew Jonathan Nok dies

The Kaduna State Commission for Education, Prof. Andrew Jonathan Nok died this morning, November 21, 2017 after a brief illness.

Following a cabinet reshuffle in 2016, he was moved to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, where he championed the renovation and rehabilitation of schools, the training of teachers and the provision of better learning aids.

The late commissioner was a professor of Biochemistry at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Acknowledged in the science community for his contributions, Professor Nok won the Alexander Humboldt prize in 2013 for his research into finding a cure for trypanosomiasis.

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In 2009, he won the NLNG prize for identifying the gene responsible for the enzyme which causes sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis). The Federal Government of Nigeria also honoured him with the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM).

Announcing his death in a statement through his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai said, Professor Nok is “one of the best this country has produced, and one of the most committed persons to have served Kaduna State”.

El-Rufai said, Professor Nok was a man of intellect, ability and deep conviction who will be sorely missed.

According to him, “The Kaduna State Government has announced the death of Professor Jonathan Andrew Nok, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology. Professor Nok died in the early hours of today, 21 November 2017, in Kaduna”.

“We are saddened by the loss of Professor Jonathan Andrew Nok, our respected Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology. Professor Nok was a man of intellect, ability and deep conviction who will be sorely missed.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai has led members of the State Executive Council to visit and commiserate with the Nok family. In this moment of distress, the government prays God to comfort his family and grant his gentle soul peaceful repose.

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“Malam El-Rufai described Professor Nok as “a pillar of the cabinet, a man as distinguished in learning as he was a capable administrator, adept at getting things done and dedicated to the progress of the state.”

“The governor said that “Professor Nok was one of the best this country has produced, and one of the most committed persons to have served Kaduna State. He was steadfast, rigorous and very successful in implementing our project to improve Health and Education in the state. He will be sorely missed.

It was under his ministry Teachers who sat and failed primary four test were asked to go while the state was determined to recruit 25,000 teachers to replace over 21,000 who failed the exams.

 

 

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