OBITUARY PANDEF GRIEVES THE LOSS-OF-ITS-PRIMARY-BOARD-OF-TRUSTEES-MEMBER-AND-FORMER-MINISTER-OF-SCIENCE-AND-TECHNOLOGY,-PROF.-TURNER -T.-ISOUN-AT-87

OBITUARY 

PANDEF GRIEVES THE LOSS OF ITS PRIMARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBER AND FORMER MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, PROF. TURNER T. ISOUN AT 87

Wisdom Tide News | July 21, 2026

The Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) with shock and grief, mourn the passing into glory of Nigeria’s former Minister of Science and Technology, globally renown scholar and one of its core founding members of the Board of Trustees, Professor Turner T Isoun.  According to the family, Prof. Isoun died in Abuja on Wednesday 15th July, 2026 at the age of 87 years. He lived a greatly successful life of outstanding scientific scholarship in research and teaching all around the world and public service. 

Among other things, he had served in Rivers State as Special Adviser to Governor on Science and Technology and pioneer Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology which is now renamed  Rivers State University, Portharcourt.  During his time as Minister of Science and Technology under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he took that sector of national life to its highest levels. Indeed he was the brain behind the establishment of such lofty existing structures as Nigerian Institute of Biotechnology, Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT), National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA), Galaxy Backbone Technology Hub, etc. Prof. Isoun was a Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Sciences as well as Fellow African Academy of Science. He also founded the 'Wetland Centre' reseach outfit  in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and was pioneer Chairman of Bayelsa Education Trust Fund and founding leader of the think tank, Rivers Study Group. He is a recipient of the high national honour, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

At the founding of PANDEF in 2016, amongst other things, Prof. Isoun played a key role in the drafting of the '16 Point Agenda ' for the development of Niger Delta  which was presented to Former President, Muhammadu Buhari on 1st November 2016.  He also donated the Wetland Centre in Yenagoa to PANDEF as a temporary National Secretariat and this has remained so till date.  

PANDEF salutes his great national service and restates its commitment in keeping his legacy alive.  

PANDEF also conveys deepest condolences to the Government and people of Bayelsa State, home town, Odi and most importantly his wife of sixty years, Miriam and all the family.

PANDEF urges all its branches across Nigeria and abroad to observe a 3 days mourning period with effect from Tuesday, 21st July, 2026 

Further funeral details will be conveyed by the family. 

May his soul rest in peace.   

Ambassador Dr Godknows Boladei, OON 

National Chairman 

17th July, 2026