By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday expressed sadness over the death of two renowned Nigerian academics, Profs. Habu Galadima, the Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), and Dotun Philips, a development economist.
Buhari described Galadima as an intellectual colossus who stood tall in the field of scholarship and knowledge.
“Galadima was an eloquent and remarkable intellectual whose contributions to scholarship were vast and remarkable, and Nigeria will continue to remember him for these contributions,” the President said while commiserating with his family, friends, the government and people of Nasarawa State.
President Buhari added that “with the death Galadima, NIPPS has lost one of the best DGs ever appointed to head the institute.”
Mourning Prof Philips, Buhari said Nigeria has lost a brilliant economist even as he commiserated with his family, friends and associates.
The President also condoled with the academia, government and people of Ogun State, noting that “Nigeria has lost a brilliant economist who for decades made his wealth of knowledge and experience available for several students, researchers and governments at all levels.”
According to Buhari, “The history of the Nigerian Civil Service cannot be complete without reference to the contributions of Prof. Philips,” adding that he also played significant roles in the evolution of the country’s tax system, development plans, revenue allocation and building human resource capacities, among others.
A statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said Buhari prayed that God will console all those who mourn the distinguished scholar, renowned author and former Director-General, Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), and grant his soul peaceful rest.
He also prayed to Allah to forgive the soul of Galadima and reward his good deeds with Al Jannah.
