The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) on Monday paid glowing tributes to its late ninth Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, during a Special Senate Session held in his honour, describing him as a visionary administrator, distinguished scholar, and transformational leader whose impact continues to resonate across the institution.
Professor Ambali, who served as Vice Chancellor of the university from 2012 to 2017, passed away on June 6, 2026. His death has been widely mourned within academic circles, with colleagues, students, and stakeholders reflecting on his remarkable contributions to higher education and national development.
Speaking at the solemn gathering held at the university auditorium, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole, described the late academic as an exceptional leader whose tenure brought significant growth, stability, and innovation to the institution.
Reflecting on the inevitability of death, Egbewole noted that while life is transient, the legacies of great individuals endure beyond their lifetime.
“Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali’s contributions remain indelibly etched in the history of this university. His administration was defined by vision, humility, patience, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of the institution,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted several landmark achievements recorded during Ambali’s five-year administration, including major improvements in staff and student welfare, expansion of academic programmes, digitisation of the university library, technological advancement, infrastructural development, enhanced water and electricity supply, environmental beautification, sports development, international collaborations, and the promotion of religious harmony on campus.
According to Egbewole, the late former Vice Chancellor consolidated the gains he inherited and elevated the university to greater heights through purposeful leadership and strategic planning.
“Professor Ambali inherited an intellectual palace and handed over a castle of knowledge and reality. His footprints are visible across every facet of the university, and it is our collective responsibility to preserve and build upon the achievements of his administration,” he stated.
Egbewole, who served under Ambali in several capacities, including as Dean of the Faculty of Law and Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), described him as a focused, accommodating, and resourceful leader whose dedication to service translated into enduring institutional progress.
Also speaking at the event, the President of the Students’ Union, Comrade Adelu Idris Ayomo, described the late professor as one of the most accomplished personalities to have occupied the office of Vice Chancellor in the history of the University of Ilorin.
He noted that Ambali’s passing represented a profound loss to the university community, the veterinary profession, academia, and Nigeria at large.
According to Ayomo, the former Vice Chancellor belonged to a rare category of leaders whose influence transcends their years in office, with generations of students continuing to benefit from the structures, policies, and values established during his administration.
“His contributions have become woven into the very fabric of this institution, making him not just a former Vice Chancellor but an enduring part of the history and identity of the Better By Far University,” he said.
The Students’ Union President further described Ambali as an intellectual giant who embodied integrity, diligence, professionalism, and selfless service throughout his distinguished career.
He emphasized that the late administrator’s life demonstrated that true leadership is measured not by titles held but by the positive impact made on people and institutions.
Ayomo urged students and members of the university community to emulate the values championed by the late professor by upholding excellence, hard work, integrity, and commitment to service.
The Special Senate Session provided an opportunity for reflection on Professor Ambali’s enduring legacy and the principles that guided his stewardship of the university.
Prayers were offered for the repose of his soul, with participants asking Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus.
Widely respected for his outstanding contributions to veterinary medicine, higher education, and national development, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali remains celebrated as one of the most influential leaders in the history of the University of Ilorin.
The session concluded with a renewed pledge by the university community to sustain the ideals, values, and developmental strides championed by the late former Vice Chancellor, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire future generations.
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