Ambali: We ‘ve lost a selfless mentor-IESA
By Abubakar Imam
The Chairman of the Ilorin Emirate Staff Association (IESA), University of Ilorin, Prof. Ibrahim Kayode Adam, has said that with the death of the nineth Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, OON, the Association has lost a great and selfless mentor.
Prof. Adam stated this penultimate Sunday (June 14, 2026) when he led a delegation of members of the Association on a condolence visit to the family of the late former Vice Chancellor at their residences in Ilorin.
Speaking at the ancestral home of the late former Vice Chancellor, Adeludere Compound, Idi-Orombo, Ilorin, Prof. Adam said that the death of the erudite scholar and administrator was a great and irreparable loss to the Association.
The delegation, which consisted of many members of the IESA, was received by the Head of the Adeludere family, Alhaji Musa Hanafi Adeludere, and some other relations of the late former Vice Chancellor.
He explained that the late Prof. Ambali was a strong pillar of the Association and one of those whose deliberate actions led to exponential increase in its population.
He also described him as a fantastic role-model and motivator whose presence and interventions at critical junctures would be sorely missed.
Prof. Adam also said that the former Vice Chancellor gave a very good account of himself before, during and after his tenure as the Chief Executive of the University and that his contributions would remain indelible.
The delegation also visited the Shehu Shagari Housing Estate Residence of the late Vice Chancellor where it was received by his senior widow, Prof. Taiwo Toyin Ambali.
The delegation took time to offer extensive prayers at the graveside of the late former Vice Chancellor for the peaceful repose of his soul.
Responding, Prof. Ambali, who teaches at the Department of Adult Education, University of Ilorin, commended the Association for the visit, which she described as thoughtful. She was latter presented with a condolence letter by the Chairman of the Association, Prof. Adam.
In the same vein, the Association also visited his other widow, Mrs Aisha Yusuf-Ambali, at the residence of the late former Vice Chancellor in the Irewolede Housing Estate, Ilorin.
She was also consoled as another special prayer was said for the repose of the soul of the late former Vice Chancellor. Mrs Yusuf-Ambali was equally presented with a condolence letter by the Chairman of the Association, Prof. Adam.
In a brief lecture during the visit, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Arabic, University of Ilorin, Dr Ambali Abdulsalam, admonished the family of the late former Vice Chancellor to jealously guard and protect his legacy.
The cleric-don said that the family must resist every step that may dent the good records left behind by the late former Vice Chancellor.
The IESA delegation also paid a condolence visit to the widower of the late Mrs Khadijat Ahmad Sebutu, Dr Saliu Ahmed Sebutu at the Shehu Shagari Housing Estate Ilorin Residence, who also passed on recently.
Mrs Sebutu, who died on Friday (June 5, 2026), was until her death a staff member of the Department of Home Economics, University of Ilorin.
Other members of the IESA delegation were a member of the Governing Council of the University, Mr AbdulRasheed Gidado Dauda; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the Registrar of the Federal College of Education,Ilawe-Ekiti, Dr Khadijat Garba; the Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi; a former University Librarian, Prof. Abdulwahab Olanrewaju Issa; and a member of the Editorial Board of UNILORIN Bulletin, Dr Oba AbdulKadir Laaro, and a former Sub-Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Mohammed Kabir Garba; among several others.
