Ambali, UNILORIN’s 9th VC, passes on
Egbewole declares 7-day mourning period *Oloyede, Kwara Gov. Emir, others pay tribute
By Kunle Akogun and Abubakar Imam
The ninth Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, OON, died in the early hours of last Saturday (June 6, 2026), aged 68. His remains have since been buried in accordance with Islamic injunctions.
The late Prof. Ambali, who headed the University between 2012 and 2017, was, until his death, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Kwara State University, Malete.
One of his younger brothers, Alhaji Isiaka Bobonkiri, told UNILORIN Bulletin that the late Prof. Ambali was hale and hearty on Friday, and he accompanied him on a condolence visit to a bereaved relation and community leader.
Announcing the death of one of his predecessors, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, expressed profound sadness, describing it as “very shocking and a huge loss not just to his family and the University but also to the entire humanity.
In a statement issued by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, the Vice Chancellor described the late former Vice Chancellor as an unassuming and exemplary leader, whose “remains a positively remarkable episode in the annals of the University as he discharged his duties with absolute dedication, uncommon humility and inspiring distinction.”
Prof. Egbewole sympathised with the relations, friends and associates of the deceased. He also sympathised with the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON; the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR; and the management and staff of the Kwara State University, Malete, as well as the people of the Ilorin Emirate.
Prof. Egbewole, who is also the Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), prayed to Allah to forgive his shortcomings and reward his good deeds with the admission of his gentle soul into Aljanat Fridaous.
As a mark of respect, the Vice Chancellor declared seven-day of mourning at the University. He also directed that the period be dedicated to prayers for the former Vice Chancellor while the flag of the University would also fly at half mast.
In his own tribute, Prof. Ambali’s immediate predecessor, Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, CFR, described the deceased as “a very modest, honest, and devoted public servant, and an academic par excellence.”
Prof. Oloyede, who is the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), said that the late Prof. Ambali worked closely with him as Dean of Veterinary Medicine when he (Oloyede) was the Vice Chancellor.
He said, “We will sorely miss this great scholar; His ‘Yes’ was ‘Yes’ and his ‘No’ was ‘No’. He would be missed by the University, which he devotedly led for five years.”
Prof. Oloyede disclosed that he was one of those that persuaded Prof. Ambali to transfer his services to the University of Ilorin from the University of Maiduguri”, adding that “it was not easy convincing him. So, you can see how painful his death is to me.”
“We pray Almighty Allah to grant his soul eternal rest.
Also, in a condolence message, the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said he received the news of the death with shock and sadness.
In a statement signed by his Deputy Chief Press Secretary, AbdulRauf Agboola on Saturday, Governor AbdulRazaq said, “Beyond being a towering academic figure, Prof. Ambali was a great humanist, a leader with profound impact on the community, and an outstanding administrator.”
The governor commiserated with the University of Ilorin, the Kwara State University (KWASU), the family, friends and associates of the late academic.
He prayed to Allah to ease his account, widen and light up his grave, and bless him with al-jannah Firdaus.
The governor also asked Allah to uphold the family upon goodness.
On his part, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, in a condolence message, expressed deep sadness over the death of Prof. Ambali.
In a condolence message issued by his spokesman, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir described the late Prof. Ambali as an erudite scholar, accomplished administrator and pride of the Ilorin Emirate whose contributions to education and national development were immense and enduring.
The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) said Prof. Ambali’s death was not only a terrible blow but an incident that diminished the people of the emirate.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Suleiman Dagbo, the union said that the National President, Alhaji Abdulmumini Abdulmalik ,and its members across the world received the news of the passing of the distinguished scholar and administrator with shock, disbelief and profound sadness.
It described the late Prof. Ambali as a complete patriot and perfect gentleman who served his ancestral community and humanity at large with absolute humility and total dedication.
The pr e-burial Janazah prayer for Prof. Ambali was held by 4.30 p.m. on Saturday at the premises of the An-Nur Mosque, Oloje Housing Estate.
The Janazah prayer, which drew hundreds of sympathisers, was led by the Deputy Chief Imam of Ilorin, Shaykh Abdullahi AbdulHamid, after which the remains were committed to mother earth at his private residence.
Shaykh Abdulhamid, who said that the demise of the former Vice Chancellor was shocking and unexpected but should be accepted with faith, described the deceased as an outstanding scholar and administrator who left remarkable footprints on the sand of time.
Others who attended the solemn ceremony included the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN; the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Shaykh Luqman Alade Jimoh; the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University of Education, Ilorin, Prof. Medinat Folorunso Salman; the Vice Chancellor of the Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Prof. Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh as well as the Registrar of the University of Ilorin, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla.
Also in attendance were the Talba of Ilorin and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem, OFR; the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON; the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Ibrahim Abdulganiyu Jawondo; a former Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Lasiele Alabi Yahaya; and a former Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, Prof. Abdullahi Alafara Baba; as well as the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun and the University Estate Officer, Dr Bolakale Sahid Baba, among several others.
Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali’s assumption of office on October 16, 2012 brought with it an admixture of great expectations and arrant cynicism, depending on whether one is his admirer or detractor. To the new Vice-Chancellor’s genuine admirers and well-wishers, especially those who had followed his career history even from his student days at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ambali would have no problem discharging himself creditably at the end of his tenure. On the other hand, the detractors, quite a handful of them of course, were not interested in the impressive credentials of unmistakable professional attainments and service trajectory the Professor of Veterinary Medicine parades. However, while Professor Ambali has been able to make the former group proud, he pleasantly disappointed the pessimists in the latter group, most of whom have since seen the folly in their cynicism.
While his tenure lasted, Professor Ambali not only sustained the legacy of excellence bequeathed to him by his predecessors, he also greatly improved on it, bringing on new innovations that have invariably ingrained the University’s name in the minds of many Nigerians and indeed foreigners who desire quality and uninterrupted education.
Professor Ambali is a perfect example of a silent achiever, a fair but firm leader, a veritable team player and a visionary team leader, a man with the proverbial Midas touch, who has greatly turned the fortunes of the University around. For the University of Ilorin, Professor Ambali’s five-year tenure was very eventful as several landmark achievements were recorded in all spheres of the University’s core mandates of teaching, research and community service.
