Former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun, has died at the age of 87.
He passed away during the weekend in Abuja.
The death of the former minister drew a reaction from Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who described it as a painful loss to Bayelsa, the Ijaw nation and Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Yenagoa by his spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, the governor paid tribute to Isoun’s years of service and his contributions to national development.
Governor Diri said the late professor of veterinary medicine built a lasting legacy through his work in education, science and public administration.
He noted that Isoun was known for his dedication to learning and for helping to shape policies that supported the country’s technological growth.
The governor also recalled Isoun’s role as the first Vice-Chancellor of the then University of Science and Technology in Port Harcourt, now Rivers State University.
He said the late academic helped establish a strong foundation for the institution, which became Nigeria’s first university dedicated to science and technology.
Isoun later served as Minister of Science and Technology during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 2000 to 2007.
During his time in office, he led several projects aimed at improving the country’s information and communication technology sector as well as its space programme.
His tenure was linked to the establishment of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which was created to drive the development of information technology across Nigeria.
He also played a leading role in the creation of Galaxy Backbone Plc, the government-owned ICT company responsible for improving communication infrastructure and expanding broadband services across public institutions.
Nigeria’s space technology programme also recorded progress under his leadership, with the launch of some of the country’s first satellites, including NigeriaSat-1 and NigComSat-1R, helping to strengthen the nation’s presence in space technology.
