The academic community in Nigeria has been thrown into mourning following the death of former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, who passed away at the age of 68.
Prof. Ambali reportedly died in the early hours of Saturday, bringing to an end a distinguished career that spanned decades in academia, university administration and veterinary medicine.
A respected scholar and administrator, Ambali served as the ninth Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin between 2012 and 2017. During his tenure, he was credited with sustaining the institution’s reputation for academic excellence and stable academic calendars.
He succeeded Prof. Is-haq Oloyede and later handed over to Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem at the completion of his five-year tenure.
Born on November 29, 1957, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Ambali began his educational journey at Pakata Primary School before proceeding to Government Secondary School, Jalingo. He later obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1981.
Driven by a passion for academic excellence, he furthered his studies at University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, where he earned a Master’s degree in 1984 and a PhD in Veterinary Medicine in 1989.
Throughout his academic career, Ambali rose through the ranks from Assistant Lecturer to Professor of Veterinary Medicine. He lectured at the University of Maiduguri from 1982 to 1995 before joining the University of Ilorin, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and served as its pioneer dean.
Beyond his contributions to the University of Ilorin, he held several leadership positions within the academic community, including serving as Chairman of the Association of West African Universities. He was also a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria.
At the time of his death, Prof. Ambali was serving as Chairman of the Governing Council of Kwara State University (KWASU) where he continued to contribute to the advancement of higher education.
In recognition of his service to the nation, he was conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Colleagues and former students remember him as a dedicated educator, mentor and administrator who supervised numerous postgraduate students and published more than 80 scholarly articles in reputable academic journals.
Until his death, Ambali remained actively involved in educational development initiatives in Kwara State, particularly efforts aimed at improving medical education and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
His passing marks the end of an illustrious career that left a lasting impact on Nigeria’s higher education sector and the veterinary profession.