By Ben Agande

Renowned professor of Biochemistry and Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Professor Jonathan Andrew Nok, is dead.

Professor Nok, who was the winner of the 2009 Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas prize for identifying the gene responsible for the enzyme that causes sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) died in the early hours of yesterday.

Late Professor Jonathan Andrew Nok

A statement by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, described Nok as a “a pillar of the cabinet, a man as distinguished in learning as he was a capable administrator, adept at getting things done and dedicated to the progress of the state.”

The statement, by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, quoted el-Rufai as describing him as “one of the best this country has produced, and one of the most committed persons to have served Kaduna State.”

He said late Professor Nok was a man of intellect, ability and deep conviction, who will be sorely missed.

The late commissioner was a professor of Biochemistry at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Acknowledged in the science community for his contributions, Professor Nok won the Alexander Humboldt prize in 2013 for his research into finding a cure for trypanosomiasis.