Nigeria has lost a top civil servant who contributed immensely in his own capacity to the development of the nation during his active years.
Yusuf Abba
Alhaji Yusuf Abba, a retired civil servant, died last Wednesday at the Turkish Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja at the age of 70 after a protracted illness, according to Daily Trust.
A 1971 graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Yusuf Abba had earlier attended Barewa College Zaria, for his secondary education and Rumfa College Kano, for Higher School Certificate. He also attended the University of Pernnsylonia, USA for his post-graduate studies.
He started his working career at the Broadcasting Company of Northern Nigeria (BCNN) Kaduna where he rose to the position of Director of Television in 1972.
From 1973 to 1987, Yusuf Abba taught Media and Political Sociology at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Bayero University, Kano respectively. He joined MAMSER, (later National Orientation Agency - NOA) in 1988.
He went back to the Federal Civil Service in 1997, where he served as a director at the Presidential Villa, Ministries of Defence, Sports, Culture and Tourism, Offices of the Head of Service and Secretary to the Government of the Federation from where he retired in 2006.
He is survived by his father, one wife, seven children and several grandchildren. He was buried in Abuja after a funeral prayer at the National Mosque which was attended by several former colleagues, friends and relations.