SAN FRANCISCO, November 21, (THEWILL) –Â Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Professor Andrew Jonathan Nok, is dead.
Born on February 11, 1962 at Nok Village in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Professor Nok was named Commissioner, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in 2016, where he championed the renovation and rehabilitation of schools, the training of teachers and the provision of better learning aids.
Under his leadership, the Ministry supervised the test carried out by the government on teachers in the state where thousands reportedly failed.
He had been appointed Commissioner for Health and Human Services in August 2015 where he pushed the programme to equip 255 primary health centres with tools to save infants and pregnant women.
The late commissioner was a professor of Biochemistry at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and was well acknowledged in the science community for his contributions.
He won the Alexander Humboldt prize in 2013 for his research into finding a cure for trypanosomiasis and won the NLNG prize for identifying the gene responsible for the enzyme which causes sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) in 2009.
Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, announcing his death in a statement through his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said Professor Nok was a man of intellect, ability and deep conviction who will be sorely missed.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.”
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.”
