Ishaya Mark Aku

Nigerian politician

Ishaya Mark Aku

Minister of Sports
In office February 2001 – May 2002
Preceded by	Sango Damishi
Succeeded by	Stephen Akiga

Personal details
Died	4 May 2002

Ishaya Mark Aku (died 4 May 2002) was a Nigerian Minister of Sports in the first cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He died in a plane crash in Northern Nigeria.

Background

Aku was born in Bassa local government area of Plateau State to the late paramount ruler of the Rukuba chiefdom and qualified as a water engineer. He entered the Plateau State civil service, where he held various positions, and was a permanent secretary when appointed Sports Minister. His predecessor as Sports Minister, Damishi Sango, was his kinsman.^[1]

Sports Minister

Aku was appointed Sports Minister in February 2001.^[2] He reorganized the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to become a semi-independent body that relied less on government funding. He disbanded the Super Eagles, the National team, after they performed poorly at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali. He was appointed head of the Supreme Council of Sports in Africa.^[1] Working with Chief Patrick Ekeji of the Sports Ministry, Aku started to reduce the emphasis on football to encourage other sports.^[3]

Death

On 4 May 2002, Aku was among 70 passengers on board an airliner that crashed minutes after take-off in Kano. The plane went into a nose dive shortly after take-off and plowed into built-up area, killing many people on the ground.^[4] Total dead were over 148.^[5] Aku was on his way from Jos to Lagos to watch a friendly match between the Nigerian and Kenyan national teams.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b Constance Ikokwu and Uzor Odigbo (2002-05-05). "The Man, Aku". ThisDay. Archived from the original on November 26, 2005. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
^ "THE MINISTERS AND THEIR PORTFOLIOS". Online Nigeria. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
^ Patrick Omorodion (Apr 16, 2010). "Sports development: How Bio can benefit from Ekeji". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
^ "Plane crashes in northern Nigeria". BBC News. 4 May 2002. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
^ Bootie Cosgrove-Mather (May 6, 2002). "Anger At Nigerian Crash Site". CBC News. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
^ Ausbeth Ajagu (2002-05-11). "The Ishaya Mark Aku I Knew". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 2012-08-04. Retrieved 2010-05-04.

Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo 1999–2003

Vice President	Atiku Abubakar (1999–2007)
Agriculture	Sani Daura (June 1999–2000) Hassan Adamu (2000–January 2001) Adamu Bello (February 2001–2007)
Aviation	Olusegun Agagu (May 1999–February 2001) Kema Chikwe (February 2001–May 2003)
Commerce	Mustapha Bello (June 1999–2002) Precious Ngelale (–May 2003)
Communications	Mohammed Arzika (June 1999–June 2001) Haliru Mohammed Bello (June 2001–May 2003)
Co-operation and Integration in Africa	Jerry Gana (May 1999–)
Defence	Theophilus Danjuma (June 1999–2003)
Education	Tunde Adeniran (June 1999–February 2001) Babalola Borishade (February 2001–)
Environment (Later + Housing)	Hassan Adamu (June 1999–2000) Sani Daura (2000–January 2001) Mohammed Kabir Said (February 2001–)
FCT Administration	Ibrahim Bunu (June 1999–February 2001) Mohammed Abba Gana (February 2001–)
Finance	Adamu Ciroma (June 1999–2003)
Foreign Affairs	Sule Lamido (June 1999–2003)
Health	Tim Menakaya (June 1999–February 2001) ABC Nwosu (February 2001–2003)

Industries	Iyorchia Ayu (Jun 1999–2000) Stephen Akiga (2000–January 2001) Kolawole Babalola Jamodu (February 2001–May 2003)
Information and National Orientation	Dapo Sarumi (June 1999–January 2001) Jerry Gana (February 2001–)
Internal Affairs	Sunday Afolabi (June 1999 -) Mohammed Shata (–May 2003)
Justice (Attorney General)	Kanu Agabi (Jun 1999–Jan 2000) Bola Ige (Jan 2000–2002) Kanu Agabi (2002–2003)
Labour, Employment and Productivity	Alabo Graham-Douglas (June 1999–July 2000) Musa Gwadabe
Mines and Steel Development (Solid Minerals)	Musa Gwadabe (June 1999–) Kanu Agabi
Police Affairs	David Jemibewon (June 1999–2000) Stephen Akiga (February 2001–)
Power and Steel	Bola Ige (June 1999–Jan 2000) Olusegun Agagu
Science and Technology	Ebitimi Banigo (June 1999–) Turner Isoun
Sports and Social Development	Damishi Sango (June 1999–February 2001) Ishaya Mark Aku (February 2001–May 2002) Stephen Akiga (May 2002–May 2003)
Tourism, Culture and National Orientation	Ojo Maduekwe (June 1999–July 2000) Alabo Graham-Douglas (July 2000–January 2001) Boma Jack (February 2001–)
Transport	Kema Chikwe (June 1999–February 2001) Ojo Maduekwe (February 2001–2003)
Water Resources	Mohammed Kaliel (June 1999–June 2001) Muktar Shagari (June 2001–May 2003)
Women and Youth Development	Aishat Ismail
Works and Housing	Tony Anenih (June 1999–2003)