Prof. Aliyu Usman Mani was born on April 11, 1957 in Katsina town in Katsina State.  He was aged 60.
He attended Kayalwa Primary School, Katsina between 1964 and 1970 before proceeding to Government College, Kaduna in 1971. He completed his secondary education in 1975 and did his basic studies at the School of Basic Studies (SBS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria (1975-1976).
Mani enrolled at the prestigious ABU to read Veterinary Medicine, where he graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 1981. He did his NYSC at the School of Agriculture, Asaba, Delta State, after which he had a stint with Niger Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, Kwara State.
Prof. Mani left Asaba in October 1982 to join the services of the University of Maiduguri as an Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Veterinary Medicine. He later attended the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, in the United Kingdom between 1984 and 1985, where he obtained his Master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine. He later bagged his PhD at the same school.
The slain professor returned to UNIMAID in 1994 and became a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2010. He served as the Director of UNIMAID Veterinary Teaching Hospital between 1997 and 2000. He was also Head, Department of Veterinary Medicine (2005-2010), Acting Dean, Faculty of Vet. Medicine (2008-2010).
Mani held several other positions in committees, both within and outside the university, including the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA).
Until his death yesterday, he was the Director of UNIMAID Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
He was survived by his wife and two children.