The heavens bleed for a leader who chose people over palace: Adieu, Prof. Ambali
By Idris Alooma
Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, OON, the 9th Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and Chairman of the Governing Council of Kwara State University, Malete, passed on in the early hours of Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the age of 68. He died in his private residence at Oloje Housing Estate, Ilorin — the same modest home he deliberately chose to live in even while occupying the highest office at UNILORIN. His death has thrown the University, Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, and the nation into mourning. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. A father, a scholar, and a servant-leader has gone to rest.
Born and trained as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Ambali brought the precision, patience, and compassion of his profession into every sphere of life. He approached problems with a clinician’s eye — diagnosing issues thoroughly before prescribing solutions. That scientific temperament, combined with deep Islamic faith, made him a leader who was both cerebral and humane. He never allowed titles to separate him from the people he served. To him, leadership was service, not status.
Humility was the hallmark of his life. At a time when many vice chancellors retreat into fortified official lodges, Prof. Ambali made a rare choice: he remained in his personal residence throughout his tenure from 2012 to 2017. He explained simply that he wanted to be close to his people in order to assist them. Students, junior staff, and ordinary residents of Ilorin could access him without protocol. He answered calls, received visitors at home, and dispensed counsel like a father. Power refined him, it did not change him.
Colleagues remember him as a master listener, a trait rare in leadership circles. He would sit through divergent and sometimes heated arguments without betraying emotion. When he finally spoke, his decisions were clear, strategic, and final. As one former director noted, “It wasn’t that he didn’t listen to you, but your argument might have been inferior.” That calm, methodical approach earned him respect across political, academic, and community divides.
Under his stewardship, the University of Ilorin experienced a remarkable era of sustainable development. Prof. Ambali’s administrative philosophy prioritised stability, infrastructure, merit, and discipline. Shortly after he assumed office, UNILORIN emerged as the most subscribed university in West Africa — a position it has sustained for over a decade. He also served as President of the Association of West African Universities, AWAU, where he championed regional academic cooperation and quality assurance.
Prof. Ambali believed in building people, not just buildings. He was loyal to his team and invested in continuity. It was Prof. Ambali who employed me in 2013 when I left Alaroye Newspaper, where I served as Ilorin Bureau Chief, and Radio Kwara, where I worked as a broadcaster. He saw my potential and gave me the opportunity to serve UNILORIN. The longest-serving Director of the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies Prof Mahfouz Adedimeji, who is the current Vice Chancellor, School of Economics, Abuja, served the entire duration of his tenure because, as Ambali insisted, “we would leave office together.” Many administrators today credit their training to the years they spent studying his calm and ethical style of leadership.
The nation recognised his integrity and neutrality. The Federal Government honoured him with the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON. His reputation for fairness made him the preferred Returning Officer for critical elections. He supervised governorship elections in both Kogi and Ekiti States and delivered credible results without crisis, earning the trust of INEC and stakeholders across the political spectrum. In a polity often fractured by tension, he was a steady and trusted hand.
After leaving UNILORIN in 2017, the Kwara State Government appointed him Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Kwara State University, Malete. There, he replicated the UNILORIN model of discipline, accountability, and vision. He provided strategic guidance that strengthened KWASU’s academic programmes, governance structures, and institutional reputation. Even after leaving the office of Vice Chancellor, he remained on duty for education as lecturer in Unilorin and for Kwara State.
My last personal encounter with him was in November 2025. As General Manager of UNILORIN FM, I had the honour of interviewing him as one of the “50 Voices” to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the University of Ilorin. He arrived at my office 30 minutes before the scheduled time. “I came earlier to honour you,” he said with a smile. For 30 minutes before the live programme began, we sat and interacted like father and son, not boss and subordinate. The interview itself was lively, full of wisdom and laughter. We parted with full laughter. He called me “my friend” more than three times. I never knew it would be the last time I would see him on this earth. So saddened.
Prof. Ambali’s devotion was both personal and public. Months before his death, he attended a luncheon at UNILORIN while observing a fast. He did not eat, but he came to honour the host. That gesture captured the man he was: present, respectful, and selfless. Whether in the mosque, the Senate Chamber, or a community gathering, he led by example. His life was a sermon without words.
Beyond his titles, he was “Baba” to many. He used his office to assist the poor, settle disputes, and mentor young people. Choosing to live among the people was not symbolism; it was strategy. He wanted to see their struggles firsthand and respond quickly. That closeness made his death feel personal across Ilorin Emirate, where he was celebrated as both an illustrious son and a unifying figure.
In recognition of his immense contributions, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has declared 7 days of mourning across the University and all its subsidiaries. As a mark of respect, all flags will fly at half mast throughout the mourning period. Prof. Egbewole in a statement signed by the Director Corporate Affairs University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun, described the late Prof. Ambali as a visionary leader whose legacy of discipline and service will remain indelible in the history of UNILORIN and beyond.
The big book authored by Mr. Kunle Akogun, Director of Corporate Affairs, UNILORIN, to mark the end of Prof. Ambali’s five-year tenure lies on my desk, as I write pen this tribute, glittering as though it was written yesterday.
Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali lived simply, served deeply, and left an enduring mark. He proved that true leadership is measured not by the height of one’s office, but by the depth of one’s sacrifice. As we commit his soul to Allah, we pray that Almighty Allah forgives his shortcomings, accepts his good deeds, and grants him Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen. The University has lost a father. Nigeria has lost an honest man. And we who knew him will forever miss the Vice Chancellor who employed this son in 2013, chose to live among his people, and called me his friend.
