NIPSS Boss, Habu Galadima dies, Buhari mourns

Habu Shuaibu Galadima, director-general of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau state, is dead.

C.F.J Udaya, NIPSS director of administration, announced his death in a statement on Sunday.

Udaya said Galadima died after a brief illness and will be buried according to Islamic rites.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors, Management and staff of the National Institute, we regret to announce the sudden demise of the Director General/CEO of NIPSS, Kuru, Prof Habu Shuaibu Galadima which occurred this morning 20 December, 2020 after a brief illness,” the director said.

“He will be buried according to Islamic rites.”

On behalf of the Board of Governors, Management and staff of the National Institute, we regret to announce the sudden demise of the Director General/CEO of NIPSS, Kuru, Prof Habu Shuaibu Galadima which occurred this morning 20 December, 2020 after a brief illness. pic.twitter.com/ICg73nicCn

— The National Institute, Kuru (@NIPSSKuru) December 20, 2020

Galadima took over the helm of affairs at NIPSS in July 2019 after he was confirmed by the senate.

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death, describing Galadima as an intellectual colossus who stood tall in the field of scholarship and knowledge.

“Galadima was an eloquent and remarkable intellectual whose contributions to scholarship were vast and remarkable, and Nigeria will continue to remember him for these contributions,” the President said.

He commiserated with his family, friends, the government and people of Nasarawa State.

President Buhari added that “with the death of Galadima, NIPPS and Nigeria at large has lost one of the best DGs ever appointed to head the institute.”

Until his appointment as DG of the prestigious institute by President Buhari, Galadima was a professor of political science and taught for many years at University of Jos. His area of specialisation was International Relations and Strategic Studies.

He joined UNIJOS in 1990 as Assistant Lecturer. He rose to become Reader in 2004 and full-fledged Professor of Political Science in 2009. He was also Head Department of Political Science, 2008-2011. He served before then as Deputy Director, Academic Planning Division, of the university in 2007.

He joined NIPSS in 2012 as the Director of Research and the Chief Operating Officer of the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre of the National Institute.

He was also Head, Department of Defence and Security of the Directorate of Research, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (2012).

Before then, he was Assistant Director, Defence and Security Studies, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Presidency, Abuja (2004).