Jibril Muhammad Aminu (25 August 1939 – 5 June 2025), previously known as Aminu Song, was a Nigerian professor of cardiology and politician. He was Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States from 1999 to 2003 and served as the senator representing Adamawa Central senatorial district from 2003 to 2011. He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Birth and academic career

Aminu was born in August 1939. Studying medicine, he obtained an M.B.B.S from the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public university located in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Initially founded as the University College Ibadan in 1948, it maintained its affiliation with the University of London. In 1962, it became an independe ...

in 1965, and a PhD in Medicine from the Royal Post-Graduate Medical School, London in 1972. He was appointed a Fellow of the

Nigerian Academy of Science The Nigerian Academy of Science is the official science academy of Nigeria. The academy of science was established on 18 January 1977, as an association of Nigeria's foremost scientists, but incorporated in 1986. It is the apex scientific org ...

in 1972, a

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians of London, commonly referred to simply as the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of ph ...

, London in 1980 and a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians also in 1980. He was made a Distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College in 2004. Aminu was a Consultant in Medicine, Senior Lecturer and Sub-Dean, Clinical Studies at the University of Ibadan Medical School (1973–1975), and Executive Secretary of the

National Universities Commission The National Universities Commission (NUC) is a Nigerian government agency set up to regulate higher education in Nigeria. NUC, as it is popularly called, was established in 1962 as an advisory agency in the cabinet office. In 1974, it became a ...

(1975–1979). He was Visiting Professor of Medicine at

Howard University College of Medicine The Howard University College of Medicine (HUCM) is an academic division of Howard University that grants the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Ph.D., M.S., and the M.PH. HUCM is located at the Howard University Health Sciences Center in Washington, D ...

in Washington DC (1979–1980) and Vice-Chancellor of the

University of Maiduguri The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) is a Federal higher institution located in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State in Northeast Nigeria. The university was created by the federal government of Nigeria in 1975, with the intention of its ...

, 1980–1985. He was also Professor of Medicine at the University of Maiduguri (1979–1995).

Political career

Aminu held office as Federal Minister of Education and then Federal Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (1989–1992). While Petroleum Minister he was President of the African Petroleum Producers' Organization (1991) and President of the

OPEC The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC ) is an organization enabling the co-operation of leading oil-producing and oil-dependent countries in order to collectively influence the global oil market and maximize Profit (eco ...

Conference (1991–1992). He was elected a delegate to the National Constitutional Conference (1994–1995). From 1999 to 2003, Aminu was Nigerian Ambassador to the

United States of America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguo ...

. Aminu was elected to the Senate for Adamawa Central in 2003 and reelected in 2007. As a Senator Aminu was appointed to committees on Foreign Affairs, Education, Air Force and Health. In a mid-term evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ''ThisDay'' said that he had not sponsored any bills, but had contributed to debates on some motions. He had managed the Foreign Affairs Committee well, and was very committed to the activities of the Committee on Education. On 2 January 2010, Aminu was installed the "Bobaselu of The Source" by the

Ooni of Ife The Ooni of Ile-Ife (Ọọ̀ni of Ilè-Ifẹ̀) is the traditional ruler of Ifẹ, Ilé-Ifẹ̀. The Ooni dynasty existed before the reign of Oduduwa which historians have argued to have been between the 7th-9th centuries A.D. After the de ...

, Oba Sijuwade.

Personal life

Jibril Aminu was twice married. His second wife is Fatima Bukar Mulima who gave him three children. His divorced wife is Ladi Ahmed, who gave him six children. His sons Bashiru Aminu and Murtala Muhammad Aminu are economists and businessmen while his daughters work as lawyers (Nana Aminu) and dentists ( Aminu Bello). Aminu died on 5 June 2025, at the age of 85.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aminu, Jibril 1939 births 2025 deaths Nigerian Muslims Nigerian cardiologists People from Adamawa State Ambassadors of Nigeria to the United States Peoples Democratic Party members of the Senate (Nigeria) Education ministers of Nigeria Federal ministers of Nigeria University of Ibadan alumni Academic staff of the University of Maiduguri Howard University faculty Nigerian expatriate academics in the United States Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science Founder fellows of the African Academy of Sciences Nigerian Fula people Senators of the 5th National Assembly (Nigeria) Senators of the 6th National Assembly (Nigeria)