Former registrar of University of Ilorin, Emmanuel Obafemi, don yarn di secret behind why di school be one of di most wanted for Nigeria. According to am, di no-strike policy na di main reason wey dey attract students to di over 50-year-old institution.
Obafemi talk dis for Ilorin, Kwara State, during special Senate programme wey dem organise to honour di 9th vice chancellor, late Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali. Di late professor die last week after brief illness and dem bury am for Ilorin according to Islamic rites.
Obafemi explain say late Prof. Ambali meet di culture of no-strike from Academic Staff Union of Universities and oda unions. Despite pressure from everywhere, di VC maintain say no strike go happen, and throughout im tenure, no strike ever happen. Dis make di university become first-choice for many candidates. Candidates know when dem go enter and when dem go finish.
Obafemi also hail di welfarist disposition of di late VC, noting say for di four years wey e serve as registrar under Ambali, every staff get bag of rice each at di end of each year.
Di university use di forum announce plans to immortalise Prof. Ambali. Di Senate, former vice-chancellors, academics, and stakeholders celebrate im enduring legacy of service, humility, and transformative leadership.
Current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, address di university community for di institution auditorium for Ilorin. E describe Ambali as exceptional administrator wey im tenure leave indelible marks for di growth and development of di university. While di university dey mourn di loss of distinguished scholar and leader, dem equally dey celebrate life wey full of remarkable accomplishments.
Egbewole yarn say, “As a university, we dey sad, but we dey celebrate life of fulfilment and achievements. As a nation, one of our best don go, but wetin we see for palm of our hands na im candour, courage, fighting spirit, and record of achievements.”
Di Vice Chancellor note say Ambali, wey lead di institution between October 2012 and October 2017, play significant role for preserving di university culture of academic stability, particularly im uninterrupted academic calendar, wey remain one of di institution defining strengths.
According to am, di late professor also champion religious harmony, strengthen veterinary and pharmaceutical education, promote research commercialisation through LABTOP, expand health sciences facilities, and advance di university internationalisation drive.
Egbewole reflect on im personal encounters wit di late administrator and describe am as calm but highly effective leader. “I fit confirm say Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali na resourceful leader, very accommodating leader, committed leader, easy-going, quintessential gentleman, and leader wey I acknowledge as introverted dynamo.”
E challenge di university community to sustain di achievements record during Ambali tenure. “How far we don maintain dis gains? How far we don sustain dis legacies? How resolved we be for ensuring say dis sacrifices for our university no go waste? All of dis na di essence of dis Senate Special Session.”
Egbewole further announce say di university go erect monument for campus to honour di late former vice-chancellor. “Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali no fit forget. We go honour im legacies wit strategic monument for our campus.”
Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin and Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, also pay glowing tribute to di late academic. E describe am as humble leader, respected scholar, and administrator wey im contributions continue to resonate within di institution.
Oloyede highlight Ambali role for advancing academic programmes, improving infrastructure, and driving institutional growth during im tenure as vice-chancellor. E also commend di late professor dedication to mentorship, research, and welfare of both staff and students.
For tribute titled “Like Life, Like Death,” Prof. Raheem Adebayo Lawal of Department of Arts Education describe Ambali as man wey im humility and gentleness define both im life and im passing. “Like life, like death: di manner of di death of Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali appear to me as replica of im manners for life. E humble for life and gentle for death.”
Lawal recount say Ambali spend im final day attending religious activities, visiting relatives, and extending support to those around am. E also narrate how days before im death, di former vice-chancellor request younger Islamic cleric to preach to am on di supremacy of Allah, sermon wey deeply move am.
Lawal describe Ambali as calm and fair-minded administrator wey remain composed despite pressures and intrigues associate wit university leadership. Recalling dia years of working together, e say di late professor never fear to acknowledge good advice or admit mistakes. According to am, Ambali honesty, humility, and strong moral values earn am respect across di university community.
Similarly, former vice-chancellor, Prof. Suleyman Age, describe Ambali as distinguished scholar, humble administrator, and committed mentor wey im impact on di university remain visible. Age say di late professor leadership strengthen academic standards, expand infrastructure, and promote culture of research and innovation.
