BEVERLY HILLS, June 01, (THEWILL) – In sharp contrast to earlier reports that he was strangled to death by unknown assailants, the family of the deceased Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Professor Godswill Obioma, said that he died in his sleep following a heart failure.
His son, Prince Godswill Obioma, in a message to break the news of his father’s demise to NECO personnel, indicated that the Professor died after a brief illness.
Earlier reports monitored by THEWILL had said the wife of the Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation reported he had been assailed by assassins who strangled him to death and took nothing from their home.
But Godswill Junior says the Professor died naturally in his sleep.
“We request that you kindly notify the Board, Management and the entire staff of the Council of this development,” the younger Obioma said in a message to Mustapha K. Abdul, NECO’s Director of Human Resources.
Mustapha, who confirmed the death of the NECO boss, said he died in his sleep as a result of heart failure.
A forwarded communication message to Mustapha from Obioma’s second son, Prince Godswill, inform the death of his father reads: “Mustapha K. Abdul (Director Human Resource Management, NECO),
“Dear Sir, this is to formally inform you that my father, Prof. Godswill Obioma, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, passed to eternal glory yesterday 31/5/2021 after a brief illness.
“We request that you kindly notify the Board, Management and the entire staff of the Council of this development.
“We shall keep you duly informed.
“Prince Godswill Obioma the 2nd, for the family.”
The release of the conversation between the deceased son and Mustapha contradicted some reports in some online and social media platforms alleging that the NECO boss was assassinated in his Minna residence by some unknown gunmen.
Obioma, a Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, was appointed NECO Registrar on May 14, 2020.
Until his appointment as NECO Registrar, Obioma was the Ebonyi State Resident Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He was a former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council.
Prof. Obioma has held other key positions in the education sector, among which are: Director, Monitoring, Research and Statistics, National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB); Director Monitoring and Evaluation Universal Basic Education Programme; Director Monitoring and Evaluation National Primary Education Commission and Head, Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, University of Jos.
Obioma hailed from Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.