Rilwanu Lukman dies at 76
Former Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and former Minister of Nigeria’s Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, died during the early hours of yesterday at Vienna, Austria. A spokesperson of the family and close associate of Alhaji Lukman, Ciroman Zazzau, Alhaji Abdullahi Nuhu (Baban Ingila), confirmed the death to our […]
Former Secretary General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and former Minister of Nigeria’s Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, died during the early hours of yesterday at Vienna, Austria.
A spokesperson of the family and close associate of Alhaji Lukman, Ciroman Zazzau, Alhaji Abdullahi Nuhu (Baban Ingila), confirmed the death to our correspondent but declined to make further comments when contacted at the Lukmans’ family house inside the ancient city of Zaria.
“As you can see, every one is shocked because the news (of the death) came in suddenly. Nobody can grant any interview now but you can come back tomorrow (today) for whatever you want,” Alhaji Nuhu said.
However, a reliable family source has told Daily Trust that arrangements on how to bring the remains of the late former minister are in top gear, “we are hoping that the corpse would arrive Nigeria between Wednesday and Thursday if no hitches are encountered,” the source said.
A profile on the life of Alhaji Lukman obtained by our correspondent shows that he was born in Zaria, Kaduna State on August 26, 1938. After his elementary, primary and secondary education, he trained as a mining engineer at the College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria (now Ahmadu Bello University). From there he moved to the Imperial College, London for further studies.
He obtained his second degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Mining and Metallurgy in Leoben, Austria in 1968. In 1978, he earned a degree in Mineral Economics from McGill University,
Montreal, and obtained an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bologna, Italy. From 1962 to March 2010, Lukman has worked in different local and international organisations. Prominent among these appointments were Minister of Mines, Power and Steel from 1984 to 1985 and Minister of Petroleum Resources from 1986 to 1990.
From 1986 he served eight consecutive terms as OPEC president, and in 1994 he was elected OPEC Secretary General. President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Lukman his Special Adviser on Petroleum and Energy Matters in 1999, while in the year 2008 President Yar’adua appointed him as Petroleum Resources Minister. It was his last appointment in Nigeria.
Two honours of Knight of the British Empire (KBE) in 1989 and Officer of the Legion d’Honneur of France in 1990 stand outstanding to Lukman during his life time.