Nigeria’s former ambassador to China and a retired senior intelligence officer of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Sheikh Uthman AbdulAzeez, has passed away.
AbdulAzeez died on Saturday night after a brief illness at the age of 71.
The death of the Ilorin-born diplomat and former president of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union was announced on Sunday by the current president of the union, Alh AbdulMumin AbdulMalik.
Born on February 18, 1952, in Ilorin, Kwara State, AbdulAzeez obtained his First School Certificate in 1966 from the former Native Authority Primary School, Bussa. He later trained as a teacher at the then Ilorin Teachers College, now Sheikh Abdulkadir College, between 1967 and 1971.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography in 1977 from the former Abdullahi Bayero College of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He furthered his education at the University of Jos, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
AbdulAzeez also studied at the University of Ibadan, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Strategic Studies in 2002. He later attended the then National War College, now the National Defence College, Abuja, where he received two awards for academic excellence.
After completing his studies, he was posted to the old Sokoto State for his National Youth Service Corps assignment and served at the Advanced Teachers College, Sokoto, between 1977 and 1978. He was retained as a lecturer by the institution and later became Head of the Geography Department.
In 1985, AbdulAzeez joined the Federal Government as a pioneer staff member of the National Intelligence Agency, where he rose through the ranks to occupy senior leadership positions within the service.
He later served as Director of Financial Crimes in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Drugs and Financial Crimes from 2000 to 2001 and was among key figures whose efforts led to the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
AbdulAzeez also worked as an intelligence expert in several countries, including Egypt, Angola, Liberia and China. He was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to China in 2010, during which time he hosted the launch of Nigeria’s satellite on December 21, 2011.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, expressed condolences to the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, describing the late diplomat as a man of strong character whose life had a lasting impact on society.
The governor prayed for divine mercy upon the deceased and asked for strength and comfort for his family and loved ones.
Similarly, the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, described the death as a monumental loss to the Ilorin Emirate and humanity at large. In a condolence message issued by his press secretary, Dr Abdulazeez Arowona, the monarch sympathised with the family, associates, IEDPU leadership at home and abroad, and all those affected by the loss.
