First JAMB executive secretary dies at 79
The death has occurred of Alhaji Yahaya Aliyu who became the first Executive Secretary of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Born in Anguma Juma, Zaria city in Kaduna State, Yahaya Aliyu died Friday morning at the age of 79 and was buried on that day according to Islamic rites.
He was among the first set of students to study English in Nigerian College before moving to University of Ibadan for his degree programme.
According to his brother, Sa’idu Abubakar DanHalima, he was the first indigenous Registrar of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He also served as the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
His father, Malam Aliyu Abbas, was the Chief Imam of Zaria Central Mosque. He was a member of the Barewa College’s class of 1952/57 with Justice Lawal Uwais, Generals Murtala Muhammad and Muhammadu Shuwa, Professors Jibril Aminu and many others.
A onetime Ambassador to UNESCO, late Ambassador Aliyu will be more remembered for the earlier part of what many referred to the golden period of ABU’s history, when Professor Ishaya Audu served as vice chancellor, Malam Hamza R. Zayyad as bursar and Malam Aliyu as registrar.
He left behind one wife and two daughters, among whom is the Commissioner for Rural Development in Kaduna State, Balaraba Aliyu Inuwa.