The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities has described the death of its Chairman, Emeritus Professor Nimi Dimgba Briggs as a great loss.
Prof Briggs passed away in the early hours of Easter Monday, 2023, at the age of 79 years.
In a statement issued on the loss of Prof. Briggs, the Alternate Chairman of the Committee, Bashir Dalhatu, described the deceased as an outstanding intellectual, scholar-practitioner, public servant, and statesman and a highly-valued citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dalhatu noted that the late Prof. Briggs was a complete gentleman, a family man, and a man of deep thought and vision.
“His footprints in medicine, in general, and in public and private lives are timeless.
“His service to our country, Africa, and the rest of the world will continue to remind us of this great man.”
Dalhatu thanked God for the deceased’s fulfilled life, and we pray that his soul be granted everlasting life and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Strong Pillar
In a related statement, the Chairman, of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Samuel Edoumiekumo, eulogized Professor Briggs as a strong pillar of the Nigerian University system contributing over 50 years of unbroken service.
Edoumiekumo noted that long after he retired from active academics, he was still serving the system as pro-Chancellor to two Universities and a member of the NUC Advisory Committee.
He noted that Nigeria had lost a strong pillar in the academic community.
He prayed to God to grant his widow lady Datta Briggs, his Children, and grandchildren, the good people of Abonnema and Rivers state the fortitude to bear the loss.
Four Generations Of Professors
Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs trained four generations of Professors of Medicine and was a leading authority in the field of gynecology and obstetrics.
As Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port-Harcourt, he set the gold standard in university administration. As Chairman, of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors, he raised the bar in articulating the nature and character of university leadership and governance in Nigeria.
Briggs served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt twice. First, as Acting Vice-Chancellor from 1995 to 1996, he was appointed again in 2000 and served until 2005.
He was the former Chairman Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and the Chairman of the Board of the National Hospital between 2007 and 2008, he was appointed Chairman of the Rivers State Economic Advisory Council and the Rivers State Community Foundation as well as, Director of Centre for Health and Development, University of Port Harcourt.
Until his death, the late Briggs was the 5th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port-Harcourt, Pro-Chancellor of Federal University, Abakaliki, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, and Chairman, Committee of Pro Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
