Maiduguri – Pres. Goodluck Jonathan has sent condolence message “to commiserate with the Alkali family, the leadership and delegates to the National Conference, as well as Nigeria’s Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs,” on the death of the former university don, who until his death served at the just-concluded National Confab.

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Prof. Mohammed Nur Alkali (68) a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri died his residence on Friday night in Maiduguri.

A press statement signed by Media spokesperson to Pres. Jonathan said: “As they mourn the highly respected Professor, President Jonathan urges his family, friends, associates and colleagues at the National Conference to be consoled by the knowledge that he lived a very fulfilled life of patriotic service to his community and country.”

The statement stressed that “although Prof. Alkali passed away, sadly, before the conclusion of the work of the National Conference, the nation will always owe him a debt of gratitude for his worthy contributions to the conference, as well as for his distinguished service on several other national assignments.”

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state also speaking has also expressed deep pains at the death of the former Maiduguri University don.

Gov. Shettima said he mourns the late Alkali not only for his works, but also from a personal point of view, describing his death at as a a big blow to the state and the nation.

Shettima made the remark on Sunday in a statement made available to newsmen in Maiduguri and signed by his Special Adviser on Communication, Malam Isa Gusau.

It added that though every life must taste death in submission to Allah’s decree,

Shettima described the late Alkali as a patriotic Nigerian, who gave his best in his service to mankind.

“as a Muslim, I live with the belief that death can come calling at any point in time. But this is one death that is really heavy for us as a government and people and for me personally.

“The deceased was always undertaking research works at his own cost, making presentations and publications all geared towards finding solution to our problems.

“At the state’s academic level, Alkali laid the ground works for the establishment of Borno State University.

“This is not to mention his overwhelming contributions at the Federal Government-owned University of Maiduguri, where he was a Vice-Chancellor.

“Alkali was one of Borno’s showcase assets at the national level,” said Shettima.

Gov. Shettima also noted that the deceased was a regular feature whenever the state had to present highly respected academics for national assignments that demanded federal character representation.”

The late Alkali, died at the age of 68 years and has been buried in Maiduguri, according to Islamic rites.

Alkali had also served as served in the nation in other capacities as Director-General of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies and was a member of the Presidential Committee on Insecurity in the North East.