Chukwumerije, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, died on Sunday at the age of 75 after a long battle with lung cancer.
Shekarau’s condolence message, which was conveyed through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Nnamdi Olebara, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
According to the minister, Chukwumerije’s death was also a big loss to Nigeria’s democracy.
He described the late senator as a pragmatic and forthright politician who was highly cerebral and unrepentantly patriotic with a clear and straight stance on every issue.
“His contributions to the reforms in the education sector are tremendous and priceless; he was an esteemed team player who has left the education sector better than he met it.
“We in the education sector commiserate with his family and pray God Almighty to grant his gentle soul eternal rest; solace to his family and loved ones and bless Nigeria with more Uche Chukwumerijes,’’ he said.
Chukwumerije, a former magazine publisher, was also a former Minister of Information in the twilight of General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime and the short tenure of the Interim administration of Chief Ernest Shonekan.