ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has appointed Mrs. Ramatu O. Ibrahim as its Acting Bursar, following the killing of the university’s substantive Bursar, Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa.

The appointment, which takes effect from Tuesday, September 8, 2026, was approved by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, with the concurrence of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Malam Isa Yuguda, CON.

The Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Oladipo Ajayi, announced Ibrahim’s appointment in a public notice issued on Tuesday.

According to the university, the appointment is intended to ensure continuity, stability and effective leadership in its financial administration following Marafa’s death.

SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that Marafa was reportedly shot dead while returning from Gusau, Zamfara State.

In a notice issued after his death, NOUN said Marafa died on Sunday, September 6, in what it described as a “sudden and untimely death.”

“According to information available to the University, Mallam Nasiru Gusau Marafa was reportedly shot while returning from Gusau,” the university said.

NOUN did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding the shooting or identify those responsible.

The university had described Marafa as a “distinguished colleague, dedicated administrator and valued member of the NOUN family,” saying his death was a “profound loss” to the institution.

In Tuesday’s notice, the university again described the late Bursar as a dedicated and dependable officer who served with commitment, professionalism and integrity.

It said his contributions to the financial administration and institutional development of NOUN would be remembered with gratitude and appreciation.

Ibrahim, who was Deputy Bursar, Treasury, before her appointment, has served in several major operational units of the Bursary Department.

The university said she has extensive experience in accounting, financial management, treasury operations and related administrative processes.

In her immediate past role, Ibrahim provided leadership and oversight of the university’s treasury operations.

The Registrar said her experience across the Bursary Department and knowledge of NOUN’s financial systems and institutional processes would enable her to provide effective leadership and sustain efficient, transparent and accountable financial services.

NOUN Management expressed confidence in Ibrahim’s ability to discharge the responsibilities of her new office with professionalism, diligence, integrity and a strong sense of institutional responsibility.

The Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the university’s management, congratulated Ibrahim on her appointment and wished her a successful tenure.

The university also urged members of its community to give the Acting Bursar the necessary cooperation and support.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Nigerian Army is stepping up the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), simulation technology and data analytics to strengthen battlefield decision-making and improve its readiness to confront terrorists and other security threats.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this on Tuesday while declaring open a Simulation Training Seminar at the Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria (LFSCN), Giri, Abuja.

Shaibu, who was represented by the Coordinator, Nigerian Military Training Support Assistance Team, Maj.-Gen. Umar Yusuf, said simulation technology would allow commanders to test operational plans, anticipate adversary moves and identify capability gaps before they become costly realities on the battlefield.

He described simulation as more than a training tool, saying it had become a critical command instrument for threat analysis, testing operational plans, strengthening predictive capabilities and exploiting identified vulnerabilities of adversaries.

«“Simulation is far more than a training aid but rather a critical command instrument for supporting data analysis, strengthening predictive capabilities and enabling commanders to match our strengths against identified adversary vulnerabilities,” he said.»

The COAS charged the centre to become a strategic hub for wargaming current and future operations, testing military doctrine and refining contingency plans.

He also directed the centre to draw continuously from lessons learned in operational theatres to identify weaknesses in existing plans and address capability gaps before they affect mission execution.

According to him, simulation-based training will not only boost combat readiness but also cut the financial and logistical burden associated with live exercises, including ammunition consumption and equipment wear.

Shaibu said the seminar, themed “Harnessing Simulation Technologies to Strengthen Nigerian Army’s Roles across Joint, Multi-Agency and Combined Operational Environments,” was particularly relevant to his command philosophy.

He said the initiative aligned with the Operational Readiness pillar of his vision of transforming the Nigerian Army into a professional, adaptable, combat-ready and resilient force.

The Army chief said the seminar’s mix of technical presentations, operational case studies and practical simulation exercises would equip participants with better tools for evaluating operational plans and predicting adversary behaviour.

He urged participants to translate the lessons into improved wargaming, operational planning, command decisions and battlefield outcomes.

Earlier, the Director-General of LFSCN, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Wabili, said emerging technologies were increasingly being exploited by both security forces and terrorist groups.

Wabili noted that robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, artificial intelligence and simulation software were becoming more accessible because of their dual-use applications.

He said the development had made it imperative for the Army to continuously adapt its strategies and integrate emerging technologies to maintain an operational edge over its adversaries.

«“The Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria is therefore in a unique position to employ advanced simulation software for continuous validation of operation plans and contingency plans,” he said.»

Wabili said the seminar would draw on the operational experience and expertise of resource persons to examine the application of simulation technology from different perspectives.

The seminar, which ends on Thursday, is expected to produce practical methodologies and recommendations for strengthening simulation-based training and operational planning in the Nigerian Army.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shaibu also inaugurated the Shooting Simulation Range at the centre.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September 19, 2026, for five by-elections across four states — Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta.

INEC’s Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Dayo Oketola, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Oketola said the elections would cover one federal and four state constituencies.

The federal constituency election will hold in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State.

The four state constituency elections will take place in Disina and Sakwa constituencies in Bauchi State, Udu Constituency in Delta State, and Dawakin Kudu Constituency in Kano State.

The commission is expected to release further details on the electoral arrangements ahead of the polls.