A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, is dead.

He was aged 68.

Mr Ambali’s death was announced in a statement on Saturday by the university’s director of corporate affairs, Kunle Akogun.

The statement read, “The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has announced the death of the 9th Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, OON.

“Prof. Ambali, who headed the university from 2012 to 2017, died earlier this morning after a brief illness. He was 68.”

Mr Akogun described the late Ambali’s as a huge loss to the university and the entire nation.

“The death of Prof Ambali, according to the Vice Chancellor, is 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,” he added.

The deceased was the ninth vice-chancellor of University of Ilorin from 2012 to 2017 and handed over to professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem.

He obtained a degree in veterinary medicine from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1981 before proceeding to the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, where he earned both a Master’s degree and a PhD in Veterinary Medicine in 1984 and 1989 respectively.

Mr Ambali had a distinguished academic and professional career spanning more than three decades having taught at the University of Maiduguri between 1982 and 1995.

He later joined the University of Ilorin, where he became the pioneer dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The academic was celebrated for his invaluable contribution to the Nigeria’s academic community especially in the field of the veterinary medicine.

Beyond academics, Mr Ambali chaired the Association of West African Universities (AWAU). He was chairman of the Governing Council of Kwara State University (KWASU) until his demise.