The National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja, a foremost security training institute in Nigeria has paid a visit to Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara in Kogi State as part of its Study Tour by the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EMIC) 17 to Kogi State as approved by His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State.
This was contained in a statement by Balogun Omeiza David
Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, CUSTECH, Osara..
The institute known for preparing high-level security intelligence for professionals, as well as senior level managers for critical roles in the sustenance of national security was led by Hyginus O. Ingele, fsi and other members of his team to CUSTECH.
The Management Staff of CUSTECH led by the Vice-Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu welcomed the team of professionals from NISS. The members of Management Staff included the Registrar, Ms. Olufunke Hudson, the Bursar, Mr. John Alaji, the University Librarian, Mr. Jeremiah Salifu. Others who were also in attendance were: Pharm. Muhammed Asuku Audu (Director Academic Planning), Bldr. Ismaila Adoke (Director, Physical Planning and Development) and Arc. Usman Muhammed (Director Works and Maintenance).
The Chairman of the NISS, Hyginus Ingele, fsi thanked the Vice Chancellor for giving them a warm reception, a gesture he said was enough for them to be at home even though they were visiting CUSTECH for the very first time. He went down memory to talk about the evolution of NISS as an institute that was conceived as training school in 1999. It was later upgraded in 2008 to become the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and later elevated in 2019 to the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS). He added that the overriding consideration in the establishment of the NISS includes promotion of synergy among security agencies in the management of national security challenges.
Talking about the theme for the Study Tour which is, “Artificial Intelligence, Security and Emerging Economies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects” Hyginus pointed out that the team from NISS were all out to see the level at which CUSTECH, a science oriented tertiary institutions is embracing the recent technological advancement of which Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking the lead across the globe at the moment.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu sincerely thanked the NISS Team from Abuja. He further appreciated His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State who in his magnanimity accepted to receive the NISS Team in our dear state. He further appreciated the NISS Team to have chosen CUSTECH, one of the fastest growing Universities in Nigeria. Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu hinted on the theme of Course 17 (Artificial Intelligence , Security and Emerging Economies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects) as one that is so significant to CUSTECH as an institution of higher learning.
The Vice-Chancellor, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu said all the courses offered presently at CUSTECH are well recognised by the National Universities Commission (NUC). He buttresses that the scarcity of admissions was why CUSTECH was founded and that medical related courses will soon be offered at CUSTECH as the ivory tower will be approaching Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for courses like Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Physiology, Anatomy and the likes to be included as part of courses for candidates who are interested in them to apply for.
Engr. Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu said the students of CUSTECH can display a whole lot of their knowledge from the use of AI to the visiting NISS Team. This was later displayed by the students when the visiting NISS Team went round the lecture rooms to interact with the students. The NISS Team also went round the whole construction site to see with their naked eyes what the Kogi State Government has judiciously used the tax payers money to achieve at CUSTECH. At the construction site, the visiting NISS Team marvelled at the structures they met on ground as they unanimously agreed that some older universities do not have the structures they met at CUSTECH.
The Study Tour came to an end after the Chairman of the NISS Team, Hyginus Ingele signed the Visitor’s Book at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. It was finally followed by a group picture to make the visit a red letter day.