UNILORIN holds special senate session for late former VC, Ambali

The University of Ilorin on Monday held a Special Senate Session in honour of its late ninth Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali,  with tributes pouring in from university administrators, students, and members of the academic community. 

The people described the late VC as a visionary leader, accomplished scholar, and builder of enduring legacies. 

Professor Ambali, who served as Vice Chancellor from 2012 to 2017, passed away on June 6, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of academic excellence, infrastructural development, institutional stability, and unwavering commitment to the growth of the University. 

Speaking during the solemn session held at the university auditorium, the vice chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole, described death as “the invisible claws that clasp indiscriminately” and noted that the late Professor Ambali’s contributions would remain indelible in the history of the institution. 

According to Professor Egbewole, the late former vice chancellor’s tenure was marked by transformational leadership, humility, patience, and dedication to the core values of the University, particularly the sustenance of its uninterrupted academic calendar. 

He highlighted several landmark achievements recorded during Professor Ambali’s administration, including staff and student welfare initiatives, expansion of academic programmes, digitisation of the University Library, rapid technological advancement, infrastructural development, improved water and power supply, environmental beautification, internationalisation efforts, sports development, and the promotion of religious harmony. 

“Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali inherited an intellectual palace and handed over a castle of knowledge and reality. His footprints remain visible across the University, and it is our collective responsibility to sustain the gains achieved during his tenure,” the VC said. 

Professor Egbewole, who served in various capacities under the late Vice Chancellor, including as Dean of the Faculty of Law and Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), described him as a resourceful, accommodating, and focused leader whose commitment to service translated into remarkable achievements for the University. 

Also the president of the Students’ Union, Comrade Adelu Idris Ayomo, described the late academic as one of the most illustrious personalities to have occupied the office of Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin. 

He stated that Professor Ambali’s death was a monumental loss not only to the University community, but also to the academic world, the veterinary profession, and Nigeria as a whole. 

According to the Students’ Union President, Professor Ambali belonged to a rare class of leaders whose impact transcended their years in office, noting that generations of students continue to benefit from the structures, systems, and values established during his administration. 

“His contributions have become woven into the very fabric of this University, making him not merely a former Vice-Chancellor but a permanent part of the history and identity of the Better By Far University,” Ayomo said. 

He further described the late professor as an intellectual giant and accomplished scholar who exemplified discipline, diligence, integrity, and selfless service throughout his career. 

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The Students’ Union President noted that Professor Ambali’s life demonstrated that true leadership is measured not by positions occupied but by the number of lives touched and the quality of legacies left behind. 

He urged students and members of the University community to draw inspiration from the late administrator’s life by upholding the values of excellence, integrity, diligence, and selfless leadership. 

The special session also served as an opportunity for reflection on the enduring impact of Professor Ambali’s stewardship and the need to preserve the ideals he championed during his lifetime. 

Prayers were offered for the repose of his soul, with speakers asking Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus. 

Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali is widely remembered for his outstanding contributions to higher education, veterinary medicine, and national development. His leadership continues to be celebrated as one of the defining eras in the history of the University of Ilorin. 

The session concluded with a renewed commitment by the University community to sustain and build upon the legacies left behind by the late former vice chancellor.