OFFICIAL TRIBUTE OF THE NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS IN HONOUR OF ARC. (CHIEF) GABRIEL YAKUBU ADUKU OON, FNIA, PPNIA, PPARCON
“Death comes to everyone, but great acts build a monument which shall endure until the end of time” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We pay tribute today to Arc. Chief Gabriel Yakubu Aduku OON, FNIA, PPNIA, PPARCON, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and the Amana Ogohi I of the Atta Igala, a man of many parts – a mentor and a leader, a father, grandfather, colleague, brother and friend to many and above all a man who served and was loyal to the Nigerian Institute of Architects to the very end.
Arc. Chief Gabriel Yakubu Aduku served meritoriously in many capacities, from the Kaduna State Chapter where he was the Chair from 1984-1987 and the Institute’s Disciplinary Committee from 1984-1990 before becoming the 14th President of the Institute from 1991 1993 and President Architects Registration Council of Nigeria from 1994-1997. Internationally, he served as a Council member of the international Union of Architects (UIA) from 1993-1999 and was instrumental in the significant Initiatives he championed to promote the Architect’s role in society.
As a Statesman, Chief Aduku flew our flag meritoriously and at various times served our nation as Chairman Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority and was an elected member of the 1994 1995 National Constitutional Conference where he served as the Chairman of the Revenue Allocation Committee at that conference. He proposed the 13% deviation formula, which is embedded in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. He also served as Nigeria’s Minister of State, Health from 2007-2008 and was an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
He was a consummate professional and made exceptional contributions to the profession through ARCHCON Nigeria Limited, a firm of Architects, Planners and Engineers he was Chairman of until his passing. ARCHCON Nigeria was responsible for many projects across Nigeria and these included the 500 Bed General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos, Masterplan and Design of the Faculty buildings University of Sokoto, Bauchi State Secretariat Complex, Bauchi, Masterplan and Design of the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, Design of the Residence of the Nigerian Ambassador in Bonn, Germany, bank buildings across Nigeria for the UBA and First Bank, The Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, the Benue State Secretariat Complex, Makurdi, the Maitama
& Ashoka District Hospitals, the Lokoja General Hospital, and many others across Nigeria.
Arc. Chief Gabriel Yakubu Aduku was a gentleman with a fatherly disposition to all, a mentor to many, and until his passing, he was the chairman of the institute’s Board of Trustees and was deeply involved in the search for harmony and unity within the profession. He was regular at the Institute’s many national and international events, the last being our BGM in November 2023, and we remain thankful to God for his company.
In closing, our thoughts and prayers are with the beloved wife and family of our late Elder Statesman, as we commit them to the hands of God who is able to comfort and strengthen them.
I commend his life of service to humanity as a reminder to all of us, of the purpose of life. In the words of Williams James –
“The greatest purpose of life is to live it for something that will last longer than you.
Today, we celebrate the life of a great man who lived a fulfilled life of purpose as a distinguished architect, astute politician, Passionate Community Leader and Dutiful Family Man.
Fare thee well Arc Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, our beloved past president and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. May your legacy continue to inspire us all.
 | ReplyForwardAdd reaction |
