Former UNILORIN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, dies at 68
The academic community and the Ilorin Emirate have been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali.
The renowned professor of Veterinary Medicine and seasoned university administrator passed away in the early hours of Saturday at his residence in Oloje Estate, Ilorin, Kwara State. He was 68 years old and would have celebrated his 69th birthday this coming November.
According to family sources, Prof. Ambali passed away peacefully around 3:00 a.m. The news came as a profound shock to associates, as he was not known to have been ill prior to his death. In fact, he had comfortably attended the Isha’i (night) prayer at a nearby mosque just hours earlier on Friday night.
His Janazah (Islamic funeral prayer) is scheduled to hold today at 4:00 p.m. at his residence along Air Force Road, Oloje Estate, Ilorin.
Prof. Ambali’s distinguished career in teaching, research, and university administration spanned over three decades. Most notably, he served as the ninth Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin between 2012 and 2017. His tenure is widely remembered for consolidating UNILORIN’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s most stable, strike-free, and highly sought-after public universities.
At the time of his passing, he was serving as the Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU)—a role he took on after his successful tenure at UNILORIN.
Born on November 29, 1957, in Ilorin, Ambali’s academic journey began at Pakata Primary School before he proceeded to Government Secondary School, Jalingo. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in 1981. He later traveled abroad to obtain both his Master’s and PhD degrees in Veterinary Medicine from the prestigious University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.
Before pitching his tent with UNILORIN—where he rose through the ranks to become a Professor and the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine—he had previously lectured at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).
Over his lifetime, Prof. Ambali mentored generations of scholars, supervised numerous postgraduate students, and published more than 80 scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals. He also served as the Chairman of the Association of West African Universities and was a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria.
In recognition of his immense contributions to education and national development, the federal government honored him with the national award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
“A terrible blow” — Ilorin Emirate reacts
Tributes have begun pouring in, with the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) describing his demise as a painful, irreparable loss to both the Emirate and the nation.
In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Mallam Suleiman Shuaib Dagbo, the union expressed deep sadness over the news, describing Prof. Ambali as “a complete patriot and perfect gentleman” who served humanity with absolute humility and dedication.
The IEDPU noted that beyond his academic feats, the late professor was an active community leader, having served as the chairman of the union’s Maiduguri branch and presiding over the opening ceremony of its 2018 national conference.
“His death is not only a terrible blow but an incident that diminishes the people of the Ilorin Emirate,” the statement read.
The union extended its heartfelt condolences to the Ambali family, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. It also commiserated with the managements, staff, and students of both Kwara State University and the University of Ilorin, praying that Almighty Allah grants the deceased eternal mercy and Al-Jannah Firdaus.
