Professor Umaru Shehu is Professor Emeritus of Community Medicine, at the University of Maiduguri and Honorary Consultant Physician at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. He holds MBBS (London), LRCP (London), MRCS (England), DPH (Liverpool), FMCPH, MFCM, FFCM (UK), FFCM (Nigeria), FAS, FWACP, DFMC (Nigeria).

Professor Shehu began his career as a Pre-registration House Surgeon, Southport Infirmary in the United Kingdom in 1957. He came back to the Government of Northern Nigeria as Pre-registration House Physician that same year, and was promoted to Medical Officer in 1957; Senior Medical Officer in 1963 and Chief Medical Officer (Preventive Services Division) in 1967. Professor Shehu then took up an appointment as Reader and Acting Head of Department of Community Medicine in 1968, and became Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medicine to Ahmadu Bello University that same year. Professor Shehu held visiting professorships in various universities, including the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA in 1976. He was appointed Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1978. He also worked with the World Health Organization as National WHO Programme Coordinator and Representative in Nigeria 1980 to 1985 and Director Sub-Regional Health Development Office in Zimbabwe 1985 to 1989. He was the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences in 1991 and Sole Administrator of the University of Maiduguri in 1993. At the University College Hospital Ibadan, he was the Chairman, Board of Management and at Bayero University Kano he was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council. He became Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University of Lagos in 1996 and he was President of the Association of Medical Schools in Africa from 1973 to 1975.

Professor Shehu is a Foundation Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria; Foundation Fellow of the West African College of Physicians; Foundation Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science; and Foundation Fellow of the Faculty of Community Medicine (Nigeria). In 1979, the Government of Nigeria awarded him the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and in 2000 he was awarded the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR).

He holds Honorary Doctor of Science Degrees from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. University of Lagos and University of Ibadan.