By Augustine Ehikioya
A former Minister, who has headed five Federal ministries in the country, Engineer Bunu Sheriff Musa is dead.
A renowned Engineer, Bunu Sheriff Musa, was born on 15th January 1947 at Maiduguri, Borno State and died on Sunday evening in Maiduguri.
He was married with 11 children and 23 grandchildren. His eldest son is Colonel Ibrahim Bunu Sheriff, who is the Commander, Sector 3, Operation Delta Safe and his first born is Mrs Falmata Abba Zannah, wife of AVM AA Zannah (Rtd).
Bunu Sheriff Musa, an administrator, distinguished Abusite, had served the Nation and his alma mater in diverse capacity.
As a result of a change of Government, he was appointed Honourable Minister of Industries (1985); Mines, Power and Steel (1986-89); Aviation in 1989; Water Resources (1990); and Employment, Labour and Productivity (1990-92).
It was to his credit that there was no strike action by the Nigerian Labour Unions throughout his tenure as Labour Minister, spanning two and a half years.
He also developed a working relationship with the labour leaders yielding to some wage increases in 1990.
Engr. Bunu Sheriff Musa completed his tenure as Minister in December 1992, on the dissolution of the Federal Cabinet and formation of a Transitional Government.
He attended the National Constitutional Conference in 1993 and was a Member of the Vision 2010 Committee in 1994.
He was appointed, Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of France (1998).
In appreciation of his services, he was decorated with French National Honour of Grand Officer of the Order of National Merit of France by the French President, in 1999.
He also bagged Nigerian National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR (2004) and National Productivity Order of Merit, NPOM (2009).
He served as Director, Oceanic Bank Plc; Member, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency; Chairman, Haskoning Engineering Consultants Nigeria Ltd; Chairman, Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Bida.
He was also National President, Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Hadejia-Jama’are- Komadugu-Yobe Basin Trust Fund and the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, (2009 – 2012).
Engr. Bunu Sheriff Musa obtained Member Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE) (1982) ; Member, Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) (1983); Fellowship of Nigerian Society of Nigeria Elected (FNSE) (1990); Fellowship of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (FNMGS) (2004).
He was also a Fellowship of the National Institute of Safety Professionals and Life Patron of Labour Writers Association of Nigeria.
He was widely traveled and has represented Nigeria at many World Conferences.
He had relocated to Borno State in order to reach out to his people and be closer to his childhood friend and family members.
On his return to his home State, he got involved in Community Service by his selection as Chairman of Borno State Police – Community Relations Committee to bring about crime control and harmonious relationship between the Police and the Community; and Chairman of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital – Community Relations Committee to enhance the patronage of the Teaching Hospital as a Centre of Excellence.
At his early ages, he attended Government Secondary School, Maiduguri (1963-67) and obtained WASC Division I; Federal School of Science, Lagos (1968-1970) and obtained GCE A/Level.
He proceeded to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and obtained B. Eng. Degree (Civil), Second Class Upper, in 1973. He served NYSC in Lagos State and was selected Best Corps Member for Lagos State in 1974.
He joined the Chad Basin Development Authority (CBDA), Maiduguri as Pupil Engineer in 1974. In 1978, he proceeded to Southampton University, England and obtained M.Sc.(Irrigation) in 1980.
He rose through the rank: Pupil Engineer(1974); Engineer Grade I (1976); Senior Irrigation Engineer (1977); Principal Irrigation Engineer (1978); Chief Irrigation Engineer (1980); Assistant General Manager and Head of Engineering Operations Department (1981); and General Manager, in 1982.
While in charge of the Authority, the activities of CBDA was said to have grown in leaps and bounds, reaching a record expansion from 2000 hectares to 14,000 hectares development, leading to the production of 20,000 tonnes of Wheat in one season.