HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BURIAL CEREMONY OF VICE ADMIRAL II IBRAHIM rtd THE FORMER CHIEF OF THE NAVAL STAFF

Late Vice Admiral Ishaya Iko Ibrahim (Rtd) CFR was born to the family of late Ibrahim Jatau and late Njebbi Ibrahim of Gora-Kwoi, Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He attended the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) Primary School, Katugal from 1957 to 1960 for the early part of his primary education. He later proceeded to SIM Primary School, Kwoi for his senior primary school education from 1960 to 1963.
After his primary education, he attended SIM Secondary School, Kagoro for his secondary education from 1964 to 1968. Late Vice Admiral Ibrahim later attended St Paul's College (now Kufena College), Zaria for his Higher School Certificate from 1969 to 1970. Thereafter, he enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna on 28 December 1973 as a
member of 14 Regular Course. He was commissioned as Sub-Lieutenant on 28 December 1976.In the course of his career in the Nigerian Navy, late Vice Admiral Ishaya Iko Ibrahim (Rtd) CFR attended several military and professional courses within and outside Nigeria.
He was the Command Intelligent Officer at the Western Naval Command and later became the Gunnery Officer onboard Nigerian Navy Ship OBUMA in 1984. Thereafter, he had a distinguished professional command of Nigerian Navy Ships AMBE, OFFIOM and EKUN during which he was at a time the Officer in Tactical Command of the team that conducted a flag
showing trip to Central Africa among other destinations. He was also the Commanding Officer of the Naval Wing, NDA and later Commanding Officer, Naval Dockyard, Lagos before becoming the Director of Administration at the NDA in 2000.
Late Vice Admiral Ibrahim served at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja as the Chief of Logistics and later in 2006 moved to the Naval training Command in Apapa, Lagos as Flag Officer Commanding. Thereafter, in the same year, he became the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos before returning to the Naval Training Command in 2008 as again the Flag Officer Commanding, a position he held before being appointed Chief of the Naval Staff.
Admiral. He was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and appointed
the 18th Chief of the Naval Staff from 28 August 2008 till 16 September
2010 when he gloriously bowed out of the Service. While serving the
Nation as Chief of the Naval Staff, he contributed immensely to the
growth of the Nigerian Navy.
He left an indelible mark in expanding the Navy both in space and
scope to its present stature. Among his many creations were the
establishment of Naval Base, Lokoja; Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE,
Forward Operating Base, Formoso; Naval Outpost, Onitsha and
School of Armament Technology, Kachia.
Having concern for the welfare of personnel of the Nigerian Navy, he initiated the Nigerian Navy Post Service Housing Scheme. This brought about the construction of affordable houses for retiring personnel of the Nigerian Navy in Karshi, Nasarawa State and Kuje in Abuja with associated welfare schools and facilities. He further ensured the expansion of barracks in Nigerian Navy Ships WEY, VICTORY and DELTA among others. Aside putting structures for the Navy, late Vice Admiral Ibrahim impacted positively in the lives of his subordinates. Little wonder, as the Chief of the Naval Staff, his then Chief of Training and Operations, Navy Secretary and Naval Assistant all later became Chief of the Naval Staff.
These feats among many others, contributed in raising the morale of the Service, substantially leading to high level of operational efficiency. The current Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo who served closely with him as Naval Assistant, described his late boss as a key transformation agent, whose untiring efforts towards the
security of Nigerian maritime environment endeared him to the entire naval community. He further stated that the late former Chief of the Naval Staff demonstrated immense intellectual sagacity, through various strategic and doctrinal initiatives, which have remained pivotal to the growth and development of the Nigerian Navy.
The late former Chief of the Naval Staff left behind his lovely wife, Mrs Grace I Ibrahim and 6 children: Ado I Ibrahim, Aminu I Ibrahim (sons), Zainab I Ibrahim, Halima I Ibrahim, Zara I Ibrahim and Salamatu I Ibrahim (daughters) to mourn him.As the saying goes, from dust we came and to dust we shall return. Late Vice Admiral Ishaya Iko Ibrahim (Rtd) CFR, as it shall be with all mortals, has bowed to mother earth on 4 January 2022.