How Prof Samuel Gowon died

Emeritus Prof. Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumor, the immediate past Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNUs) and former Vice-Chancellor of Niger Delta University, has passed away at the age of 53. The sad event occurred in Lagos in the early hours of Saturday, October 7, due to complications related to lung cancer.

Prof. Edoumiekumor, a distinguished professor of economics and social sciences, had been a dedicated and respected member of the academic community. He had served as the fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor of Niger Delta University, a university owned by Bayelsa state located in Wilberforce, Amassoma.

A notable scholar, Prof. Edoumiekumor earned two doctorate degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the University of Port Harcourt. He climbed the academic ladder to attain full professorship at Niger Delta University, holding various significant roles within and outside the academic sphere.

The General Secretary of CVCNUs, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, conveyed the somber news to the Sunday Tribune, revealing the shock and grief felt by the academic community. Prof. Edoumiekumor’s death is a substantial loss, leaving a void that will be deeply felt by his colleagues and students.

Prof. Edoumiekumor’s contributions and dedication were widely recognized, earning him multiple awards and fellowships in various professional bodies, including the Historians of Education Development Society of Nigeria (HOEDSON), the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (FIEN), the Chartered Forensic Investigation Professionals (FCFIP), the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the Nigerian Economic Society.