By Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu
The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) community has been thrown into mourning following the death of Professor Abubakar Roko, a respected academic in the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Physical and Computing.
Professor Roko had earlier appealed for a public donation of N13 million to fund his medical treatment abroad.
The university made the sad announcement in a statement posted Friday on the official Facebook handle of the UDUS Alumni Association.
“We are saddened to announce the demise of Professor Abubakar Roko. He was, until his death, a lecturer with the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Physical and Computing. We want to use this opportunity to thank you all for your financial support and prayers during his time of trials. May Allah (SWT) reward you abundantly. May Allah bestow His grace on him,” the statement read.
Professor Roko had reportedly been battling a critical illness that required specialized medical attention outside the country. His public appeal drew the sympathy of many Nigerians, especially within the academic and tech communities, who rallied financial and moral support.