Minister of
Education Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i yesterday wept as she signed the condolence registers of five
staff of the National Universities Commission (NUC), who died in the DANA plane
crash of Sunday.
Among them was the
Vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri , Professor
Celestine Onwuliri, husband of Minister of state for foreign affairs, who was
on sabbatical at the commission.
Others were Sonny Ehioghae, Deputy Director Establishment
and Staff matters; Arc. Chinwe Obi, Deputy Director Facilities and
Infrastructure; Mahmud Dukawa, Deputy Director Treasury and Mrs. Memuna Shaibu
of the Open and Distance Education (ODE) department.
Ruqayyatu said: “It is a deep loss not only to NUC and the
ministry but the whole country. These people were dedicated and highly
committed individuals in active service. We pray Nigeria does not experience
such tragedy again.”