Former UNILORIN VC Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali Dies at 68

ILORIN, Nigeria – Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) , has passed away at the age of 68. The renowned veterinary medicine scholar and distinguished university administrator died early Saturday morning, June 6, 2026, at his home in Oloje Estate, Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State. In a statement issued by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Kunle Akogun, the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, officially announced the death of the university’s 9th Vice-Chancellor, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, OON. The statement read: “Prof. Ambali, who headed the university from 2012 to 2017, died earlier this morning after a brief illness. He was 68.” According to family sources, Professor Ambali passed away around 3:00 a.m. on Saturday. The news came as a profound shock to his associates and the wider academic community, as he was not known to have been seriously 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. While the university’s official statement noted that he died after a brief illness, family sources indicated he appeared to be in good spirits at the religious service hours before his passing.

Professor Egbewole described Ambali’s death as “a huge loss not only to the University of Ilorin and the Kwara State University, Malete, which he currently serves as Pro-Chancellor, but also to the entire nation and humanity.” The Vice-Chancellor, who has sympathized with the family of the great scholar and the people of the Ilorin Emirate, enjoined sympathizers, particularly members of the UNILORIN community, to attend the Janazah (Islamic funeral prayer) for the late ex-Vice Chancellor at his Oloje Housing Estate, Ilorin, by 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026. At the time of his death, Ambali was actively serving as the Chairman and Pro-Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete — a role he took on after completing his impactful tenure at UNILORIN. His passing represents a significant loss to KWASU, where he was described by university officials as a committed, visionary leader who brought his decades of administrative experience to bear on the institution’s development.

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The late professor was born on November 29, 1957, in Ilorin, Kwara State. He began his educational journey at Pakata Primary School, Ilorin, before proceeding to Government Secondary School, Jalingo (formerly known as McBride Secondary School) in Taraba State. His pursuit of higher education took him to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 1981. He later traveled to the United Kingdom, earning both a Master’s degree and a PhD in Veterinary Medicine from the prestigious University of Liverpool — a testament to his intellectual rigor and commitment to academic excellence. Ambali began his academic career as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri in 1982, where he rose through the ranks and became a Professor of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. During his time at UNIMAID, he built a solid foundation as a researcher, educator, and mentor to countless students. He later joined the University of Ilorin, where he continued to distinguish himself, eventually rising to become the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the institution — a role that underscored his leadership in establishing and developing veterinary education at UNILORIN. Throughout his career spanning more than three decades, Professor Ambali mentored numerous scholars, supervised countless postgraduate students, and published more than 80 scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals, contributing significantly to the body of knowledge in veterinary medicine and animal health.

Ambali served as the ninth Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin from 2012 to 2017, succeeding Professor Is-haq Oloyede and later handing over to Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem at the end of his five-year tenure. 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. During his leadership, the institution maintained its tradition of uninterrupted academic calendars — a feat that set UNILORIN apart from many other federal universities in Nigeria that frequently grapple with industrial actions. In a November 2025 interview on UNILORIN 89.3FM, Ambali reflected on the institution’s unique attributes, proudly noting that it is the only public university that ran its academic calendar for more than two decades without any form of disruption. He also stated that discipline among staff and students remained one of the most significant attributes that make the institution unique, explaining that parents and families often admired remarkable positive differences in their children as soon as they were matriculated. These changes, he said, ranged from dressing, manners, and general dispositions to life compared to what was visible in them before becoming “Unilorites.” In a 2017 interview with Vanguard News, Ambali reflected on his leadership philosophy, describing himself as a democrat who believes in the rule of law and the will of the majority. “My mandate is to look after the interest of everybody, academic or non-teaching staff,” he stated, explaining his approach to navigating the complex politics of university administration. Beyond Nigeria’s borders, Ambali also served as Chairman of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU) , demonstrating his influence in regional higher education development and his commitment to fostering collaboration among universities across West Africa.

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In recognition of his immense contributions to education and national development, the Federal Government conferred upon him the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) — one of Nigeria’s prestigious civilian awards. He was also a recipient of the Distinguished Veterinarian Award in 2013 by the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), a recognition of his outstanding contributions to the veterinary profession in Nigeria. Professor Ambali was a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria (FCVSN) , a distinction he earned in 2009 after becoming a Member (MCVSN) in 2004. He also held fellowships with the Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) , the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria , and the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria. His professional service included roles as a member of the National Universities Commission (NUC) , the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) , and the Department of Livestock Services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, where he participated in the accreditation of several institutions and agencies.

Tributes have begun pouring in from across the academic community and beyond, 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, describing Professor 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 Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, also expressed deep sadness over the death. In a condolence message issued by his spokesman, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, the Emir described the late Professor Ambali as an erudite scholar, accomplished administrator, and pride of the Ilorin Emirate whose contributions to education and national development were immense and enduring. Alhaji Sulu-Gambari added: “Professor Ambali was a man of uncommon intellect, humility, and discipline. As Vice-Chancellor, he repositioned the University of Ilorin as a centre of academic excellence and stability. His tenure was marked by peace, growth, and global recognition for the institution. He served Ilorin, Kwara State, and Nigeria with distinction. He was a worthy ambassador of the Emirate who never detached himself from his roots, community, and people. His counsel on matters of education, religion, and community development was always thoughtful and invaluable.” The monarch extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate and extended family of the deceased, the academic communities of both the University of Ilorin and Kwara State University, Malete, as well as the entire Ilorin Emirate over this painful loss.

For readers seeking a quick summary of the key details, the following information has been confirmed. Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali was born on November 29, 1957, in Ilorin, Kwara State, and died on June 6, 2026, at age 68. He earned his DVM from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1981 and his Master’s and PhD in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Liverpool. He served as the ninth Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin from 2012 to 2017, where he consolidated the institution’s reputation as a strike-free university. At the time of his death, he was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Kwara State University, Malete. He was a recipient of the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria (FCVSN). He was also the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at UNILORIN. His Janazah is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at his residence in Oloje Housing Estate, Ilorin.

Former UNILORIN VC Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali Dies at 68