Professor dies few weeks to assumption of work as university VC

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has mourned the death of the immediate-past Director of Management Information Systems (DMIS) at the University, Prof. Muhtari Alhassan.

It was gathered that Prof. Alhassan was on leave of absence after which he was supposed to pick up a VCship appointment elsewhere before his untimely passing.

NOUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, in a condolence message, on Friday, described the death as a monumental loss to the academic community.

“He was a committed staff of the university. His dedication to his role and trustworthiness was exemplary. He was very simple and unassuming, a credible confidant indeed,” the VC said.

The Vice Chancellor recalled with nostalgia the deceased academic work at the NOUN as well as his excellent character.

“It was one of the best decisions I took at very early stage on assumption of office as Vice-Chancellor, to appoint him the first Professor in our Department of Computer Science.

“Prof. Muhtari was our foundational director of MIS from 2016 -2023. We cannot forget his work at NOUN. Muhtari single-handedly designed and implemented the NOUN portal that handle students application for admission, registration and the examination scripts management system, among others, during which period he saved the university out of a deepened crisis.

“Aside from his role as DMIS, Muhtari also served in several committees in the university, and was even instrumental to the selection of his successor at the MIS.”

He insisted that Prof. Muhtari was a good man, an almost perfect gentle and simple man, and he died a simple man.

“May God grant him eternal rest, and grant his family the fortitude to bear his loss also.”