Prof Babalola Borishade, 71, former Nigerian minister of education is dead. He  died in London on Wednesday after a brief illness.

He was initially rushed to Reddington Hospital in Lagos, last week from where he was taken to London. The cause of death was lung and heart –related.

Borishade was born in Usi- Ekiti on March 7, 1946 into the Ebi Ilotin family.

He served as a minister for four times, between 1999-2011. The  electrical engineer was also a teacher and a political strategist.

Between February 2001 and May 2003, he served as the Minister of Education.

In recognition of his contributions to Education in Nigeria, Africa and the World at large, Borishade was elected the Vice- Chairman of the E9 Group of the United Nations, President of the UNESCO International Conference on Education, as well as Chairman Education for All (EFA) Forum of African Ministers of Education.

In 2004, Borishade was appointed as  Minister of State, Power and Steel.

He initiated the ‘Gas to Power Project (G2P),   a World Bank sponsored project designed to ensure sustained gas development and availability for power production to meet Nigerian electricity demands.

Between July 2005 and November 2006, Borishade was Minister of Aviation, during which a Civil Aviation Bill was passed to replace the 1964 Act and the direct flight between Nigeria and the United States of America was restored.

His initiation of various reforms and development in the aviation sector resulted in Nigeria scoring 93 per cent  in the ICAO Universal Audit which made Nigeria a benchmark to African Aviation Industry.

He was then reassigned to the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a Minister.

Borisade, who served under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and was popularly known as “Boris” in the political circles, was the Baba Isale of the Cathedral Church of St. Andrews, Usi-Ekiti, the seat of the Diocese of Ekiti Oke, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), reported The Nation.

According to The Nation, he was among the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) shortly before the 2015 general elections. Governor Ayodele Fayose described Borishade’s death as a great loss to the political class, the people of Ekiti State and the country in general.