Honorable Professor Aaron Isa Baba — 2 Years Gone
Honorable Professor Aaron Isa Baba was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother. He will be remembered as a humble, charismatic, and visionary leader who lived each day with a deep and abiding desire to leave a legacy. During his 59 years of life, Prof. Baba was a man of many parts. He was a world-renowned chemist, inventor, academician, government leader, entrepreneur, innovator, and investor. He approached every challenge with the mantra “The obstacle is the way” and sincerely believed that the key to the prosperity of his family, state, and the country lay in the empowerment of everyday people.
Born on December 20, 1962, in Iyale, Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria, Prof. Baba was the firstborn of Mr. Baba Agada and the Late Mrs. Rekiya Alhassan Baba. He was the oldest of fourteen children and went to the famous Government Secondary School, Dekina. From there, he proceeded to the University of Calabar for his B.Sc. Following his undergraduate studies in Calabar, Prof. Baba then went on to Bayero University in Kano for his M.Sc. in physical chemistry in 1987. In 1989, he was accepted to the prestigious chemistry program at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, where he received a Ph.D. in Chemistry.
After completing his program at Tulane in 1994, Prof. Baba served as a chemist, lecturer, and tenured professor at Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA), Tuskegee University (Alabama, USA), and finally at Xavier University (Ohio, USA). During his extensive academic career, Prof. Baba built a catalogue of over 24 major Research Publications and impacted the lives of innumerable students, including 27 students to whom he served as Advisor. He also held posts as Committee Member, Acting Unit Head, and Departmental Representative at various institutions.
In 2008, Following a prolific teaching career in the United States, Prof. Baba accepted the personal invitation of the then Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, to join his government as the Special Adviser on Technological Development. He was later also appointed a Commissioner and Member of the State Executive Council, using his rich business, civic and scientific knowledge in the service of the citizenry of Kogi State. During his time in the Idris administration, Prof. Baba was also appointed as the Commissioner for Special Duties, Science and Technology, and Information. Most recently, Prof. Baba lectured in the Chemistry Departments at Kogi State University, Anyigba and Federal University, Lokoja.
As a philanthropist and humanitarian, he has served as a Trustee of the Igala Association as well as General Secretary and Former President of the Nigerian Association of Greater Cincinnati. His deep and enduring commitment to the betterment. Nigerians around the world and the development of the people of Kogi inspired Prof. Baba to submit his candidacy for the Kogi State governorship under the slogan “Achieving Greatness Together!.”
Throughout his life, Prof. Baba has never wavered on his commitment to the people of our state. In fact, he recently channeled his passion for the development and the health of the people of Kogi into his successful business ventures — Multilife Green Tea and Multilife Water. In recent years, he dedicated himself to improving the economic condition of farmers across the country and the world. The culmination of his life’s work as a scientist and his deep desire to make an impact resulted in multiple international patents for GoldMax, a suite of pesticides, herbicides, insect repellants, and antibacterial products that were entirely environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and nonpoisonous products.
Prof. Baba was an extraordinary businessman, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and family man, but perhaps his most important legacy will be that of a fervent and committed follower of Jesus Christ. Prof. Baba was a man of faith who never missed an opportunity to testify that he had seen God’s strong hands in every aspect of his life, family, and endeavors. As a member of Millennium Christian Ministries in Lokoja, Prof. Baba was ordained as an Elder in the church 2020.
Prof. Baba is survived by his children: Mrs. Susan Onechojo (Baba) Oguche, Mr. Frederick Achele Baba, Mr. Victor Ojonugwa Baba, and Mr. Matthew Ojotule Baba, his son in-law Mr. Hanson Onuche Oguche, granddaughters Ms. Abigail and Grace Oguche and his siblings.
