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ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo said he was “shocked and profoundly saddened” on the death of Babatunde Osotimehin, a professor of medicine and executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, and Nigerian former minister of Health.
Osinbajo expressed his shock in a statement issued by Laolu Akande, senior special assistant to the acting president on Media and Publicity, on Monday, June 5.
In the statement, Osinbajo extended heartfelt condolences to the 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.
He said as as Osotimehin is being mourned internationally, his family, friends and associates should 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 said, also had a distinguished career as medical doctor and teacher before he served, as a cabinet minister, in Nigeria, and later at the UN.
— Jun 6, 2017 @ 13:40 GMT
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