*As 100 countries condole with Nigeria over his death
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says he is “shocked and profoundly saddened” by the death of Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and a former Minister of Health.
Osinbajo expressed his shock in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, on Monday.
Osinbajo extended heartfelt condolences to late Osotimehin’s children and entire family over the passage of their beloved father, grandfather and also an illustrious Nigerian
The Acting President also commiserated with the staff of the UNFPA and the entire UN system on the demise of a very remarkable international public servant.
He said the deceased served “passionately, diligently and worked tirelessly at the global and national stages to reduce maternal mortality and promote universal access to reproductive health”.
According to Osinbajo, the late Osotimehin will be remembered for his many significant developmental contributions at home and in the international community.
As Prof. Osotimehin is being mourned internationally, the Acting President urged the his family, friends and associates to take solace in the deceased’s notable service and worthy contributions especially towards improving women and children’s health across the world.
He said such contributions would be widely acclaimed, deeply appreciated, and would be long remembered and honoured.
The late Osotimehin, Osinbajo noted, also had a distinguished career as medical doctor and teacher before he served, as a cabinet minister, in Nigeria, and later at the UN.
…Aisha Buhari also mourns
In the meantime, the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has also expressed shock over the demise of Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, the former Executive Director, United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA).
Mrs Buhari, who sent a condolence message through her tweeter handle on Monday, said that the news of Osotimehin’s death came as a rude shock.
She, therefore, prayed Almighty God to grant the family and UNFPA the fortitude to bear the loss.
“The news of his death came as a rude shock and his passing away is a great loss to us all.
“Myself and the Future Assured team mourn his demise; he will indeed be greatly missed.
“I pray Almighty God to grant his family, the UNFPA the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
100 countries condole with Nigeria
No fewer than 100 countries have condoled with Nigeria over the sudden passing away of the late Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin.
Nigeria’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the messages of condolence had come in from the majority of the 193 UN Member States.
According to him, he has been receiving condolence messages from Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives of Missions since the sad news of Osotimehin’s demise was broken on Monday.
The Nigerian envoy commended the outpouring of the condolence messages, saying it was a supportive gesture to Nigeria as the country mourned the outstanding legacy of the late UNFPA chief.
Muhammad-Bande also said that the gesture by was a testimony to the distinguished service of the late UN Under-Secretary-General to humanity.
Osotimehin, who died on Sunday night in New York at the age of 68, was born on February 6, 1949 in Ogun State.
The late Prof. Osotimehin graduated from the University of Ibadan.
He was appointed as the Executive Director of UNFPA on December 19, 2010 after serving as the Federal Minister of Health.
He had previously served as the Director-General, National Action Committee Against Aids (NACA) in Nigeria.
