Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has pledged to hand over a better institution than he inherited five years ago, to his successor.
Ambali, whose five-year tenure ends on October 15, 2017, disclosed this during an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Ilorin.
The vice chancellor noted that his administration had done its best towards sustaining the legacies of the founding fathers of the University.
He added that, he had also succeeded in maintaining an uninterrupted academic calendar as well as ensuring peace on campus.
“I have ensured that there is peace and that the majority of the people are satisfied as it is impossible to satisfy everyone.
“I don’t have personal problem with anybody; everything I do, is done to the best of my ability, to achieve the golden rules and target of the university.
“I have the responsibility of taking Unilorin to a higher level, to ensure that I hand over a better institution to my successor than what I inherited five years ago,” he said.
Expressing gratitude to God for the opportunity to have served for this long as vice-chancellor of the institution, Ambali said he had gained “tremendous experience”.
Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, a professor of veterinary medicine said, “I used to tell people that one can’t be a good leader without being a good follower. I have seen vice-chancellors carrying out their responsibilities both within and outside Nigeria”.
He added that he had served no fewer than five vice-chancellors either as Head of Department, Dean or Director, and had learnt from the way each operated.
The vice-chancellor said: “All of the cumulative experiences of my bosses are assembled and have had effect on my personality and in carrying out my responsibilities”.
Ambali expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, TETFUND and other bodies that supported the university, adding that all funds received from them were “used to develop the institution.”
Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali was born in Ilorin, Kwara state in 1957 to the family of Mall. Ambali Gidado and Mrs. Husseina Angulu. After his primary education at Pakata Primary School, Ilorin, he proceeded to McBride Secondary School Jalingo, (now Government Secondary School, Jalingo) in Taraba State. Thereafter, he was at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria and University of Liverpool, UK for his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees respectively. He was awarded the degree of DVM (1981), from ABU, and M.V.Sc, and PhD, (1984, and 1989) from University of Liverpool, UK. He became a Member of College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria, (MCVSN) in 2004 and Fellow of College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria (FCVSN) in 2009.
Prof. Ambali started his carrier as a Veterinary Surgeon, with the Ministry of Rural & Community Development, Kano, Nigeria in 1981 as a Youth Corper. He later joined the services of the University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria as an Assistant Lecturer in 1982, rose through the ranks and became Professor of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. To date, he has over thirty years of teaching experience at University level. Prof. Ambali has supervised many postgraduate students at both Masters and PhD levels and at present has graduated seventeen postgraduate students and some are still under his tutelage. The students came from different establishments across the country. He has published over eighty articles in local, national and international peer reviewed journals.
In terms of administrative responsibilities, Prof. Ambali has held a number of academic and administrative positions within and outside the ivory tower. Notable among which are; Head, Dept. of Vet. Medicine Univ. of Maiduguri, (for 5years), Director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri, (for 5years), Ag. Dean and later substantive Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, and the Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. In addition to these, he was one time member of University of Maiduguri Governing Council, representing the Senate and Member University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Management Board for two terms representing Senate and the Vice-Chancellor. These responsibilities afforded him the opportunity to serve in various committees including among others, Finance and General Purpose committees, Staff recruitment and promotion committee among others. He was also one time a member of Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) of University of Maiduguri. Prof. Ambali has served the Federal establishments in various capacities, either as member or chairman of visitation panels and/or accreditation teams to monitor academic standard in his discipline at various Universities/Agencies across the country. These are through the National Universities Commission (NUC), Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) and Department of Livestock Services of the Federal Livestock Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria to mention but a few. As a mark of recognition of his academic excellence, Prof. Ambali has served as external examiner to several Universities in Nigeria at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He was also one time the Coordinator of Bird Flu Surveillance for North East Zone of Nigeria.
Prof. Ambali is a recipient of several Honors and Awards among which are; The Borno State Government Scholarship, tenable at ABU, Zaria, Nigeria; University of Maiduguri Staff Development Scholarship, tenable at University of L’pool, UK; National Merit Award, Federal Min. of Education, Lagos, Nigeria; World Bank Training Fellowship, tenable at Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK; and Wellcome Trust Fellowship, tenable also at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK, among others.
Prof. Ambali is recipient of National Merit Award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the Federal Government of Nigeria for his contribution to educational development in the country. He served as Collation Officer for 2015 Presidential election (Nigeria) and Returning Officer for Governorship election for Niger State.
