Governor Diri laments the death Professor Isoun

...Says Bayelsa has lost a father and patriot

By Sports Groove Plus

 

 

The Bayelsa State Governor, His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, has paid a heartfelt condolence visit to the family of former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Turner Isoun, describing his death as a monumental loss to Bayelsa State, the Ijaw nation and Nigeria.

Governor Diri visited the late elder statesman's family in Abuja on Friday, where he consoled his widow, children and relatives, saying Professor Isoun's passing had left a huge void because of his lifelong dedication to education, environmental advocacy and the struggle for the advancement of the Ijaw people.

Professor Isoun, a distinguished scholar, pioneer Vice Chancellor of the former University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt (now Rivers State University), died on July 15, 2026, at the age of 87.

Speaking during the visit, Diri said he had lost not only a respected leader but also a father figure whose guidance shaped many lives.

"Personally, I lost a father, a leader and an uncle," the governor said, recalling his last visit to the late professor, whom he described as warm, humble and deeply committed to the welfare of his people.

The governor praised Professor Isoun's widow, Miriam, for her unwavering devotion to her husband throughout his later years, describing her as the family's pillar of strength.

He urged the bereaved family to find comfort in the remarkable legacy the late academic left behind, noting that his contributions to the struggle for resource control, the creation of Bayelsa State, environmental protection and the development of the Ijaw nation would remain unforgettable.

Diri also recounted a defining moment in Prof. Isoun's activism following the execution of environmental campaigner Ken Saro-Wiwa by Nigeria's military regime. 

He recalled that despite expectations that the renowned academic might hesitate, Professor Isoun became the first leader to sign a strongly worded Ijaw National Congress statement condemning the execution.

According to the governor, the late professor also mentored many young Ijaw leaders through environmental advocacy at the Wetland Centre in Yenagoa, helping to nurture a generation committed to protecting the Niger Delta ecosystem.

Responding on behalf of the family, Professor Isoun's son, Diseye Isoun, thanked Governor Diri and the Bayelsa delegation for the visit, saying the family's grief had been eased by the overwhelming support and solidarity shown by the government, the Ijaw nation, Nigerians and friends from across the world.

His widow, Miriam Isoun, also expressed gratitude to the visitors, reflecting on decades of partnership with her late husband. She said they shared a life of service, learning and mutual support, adding that they embraced growing old together with grace and purpose.

Governor Diri was accompanied by a high-powered delegation of political leaders, traditional rulers and senior government officials, who joined him in paying their final respects to one of Bayelsa's most celebrated sons, whose enduring legacy of scholarship, leadership and service continues to inspire generations.