Prologue
Early Life & Educational Pursuit
Career Choice and Setting the Tone for Future
Academic Career and Working Life
Achievements and Laurels
National Assignments and Medical Service
Fulfillment and Realisation of Dreams
On Educational Development in Nigeria
Philosophy of Life
Joyous and Trying Moments
Marital Relationship
Advice to Successor and Students
Promotion of Town and Gown Relationship
New Horizon: What Next After Vice Chancellorship
Prologue
An Ilorin-born erudite scholar, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, a professor of Veterinary Medicine with specialization in Poultry Medicine is a recipient of National Award of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He has no doubt distinguished himself as a topmost academician of international repute whose track record of achievements and monumental contributions to the development of education sector in Nigeria are enormous and profound. His uncommon leadership style and spectacular achievements in the area of promotion of academic excellence, particularly in the area of a robust town and gown relationship as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin ultimately stands him out as a person of attention on this platform, highPROFILE.
It is against this background that this platform finds him worthy of being profiled to serve as needed motivation and necessary guidance to the current generation and posterity. highPROFILE crew had a chat with the esteemed university administrator as his tenure winds down, counting down to four days, as the vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin.
His academic odyssey and life as university administrator are here presented for the younger ones to have access and gain tremendously from his exemplary life. We have the conviction that posterity will remain ever grateful to him for providing access to his success stories, failure stories, achievements, philosophy of life, contributions to education, early life and educational pursuit among others.
Early Life and Educational Pursuit
Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali (OON) was born to the family of Mallam Ambali Gidado and Mrs. Huseina Angulu on November 29, 1957. He hails from Adewudere Compound of Oke-Agbede area, Okeleru sreet, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. Young Ambali began his primary education at Pakata Primary School, Ilorin, after which he proceeded to the then McBride Secondary School, Jalingo (now Government Secondary School, Jalingo), Taraba State. Ambali was admitted to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria after one year Higher School Certificate course at the university’s School of Basic Studies and graduated with the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 1981. He later proceeded to the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, for his Master of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc.) in 1984 and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Veterinary Medicine in 1989. He also attended the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK for his Animal License Certificates.
Speaking about his early life, growing up years and educational pursuit, Professor Ambali recalled in reminiscence saying: “My growing up was all fun, just like any other child. This is so because when you are young you don’t think of any other thing than to play with friends as parents take care of all what one needs. Growing up to experience the world as it is, one starts losing the euphoria of being young and try to become more responsible, one starts spending time before taking actions on issues. I have to thank God for making me to experience full parental care”.
Career Choice and Setting the Tone for Future
As a young man full of dreams for the future, he was upbeat in his educational pursuit as steps towards accomplishment of the life goals he had set for himself. Many different courses appealed to him as interesting career paths to follow. He had wanted to be an accountant, later change his mind to wanting to become Industrial Chemist. At another time, he had nursed the mind of going for Aviation Engineering. But the turning point in his life was when he was finishing one-year programme at the School of Basic Studies. Then some lecturers came to address them on career choice; it was the time he was contemplating either to go for engineering, medicine or veterinary medicine. He opted for medicine but simply because he could not withstand seeing cadaver (dead body), he chose veterinary medicine.
Academic Career and Working Life
Graduating in Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and he completed the compulsory national youth service in 1982; then young Ambali joined the services of the University of Maiduguri as Assistant Lecturer. By dint of hard work trailing the grace of the Almighty in his life, he became a Professor of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. As he rose through the rank, he had the opportunity of serving as two-time Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri. He transferred his services to University of Ilorin in 2010 and became the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin in 2010.
His rising profile in the academic parlance heralded his choice as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin among 14 Professors that vied for the seat. He succeeded Professor Is-haq Oloyede in October 16th 2012.
Medical and National Services
He is a top-class researcher, a leader and authority in his field, Poultry Medicine. His work on bird flu is quoted widely in the academic arena. His invaluable contributions to the containment of animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans are greatly felt around the country and beyond. He proved his mettles with a ground-breaking research on bird flu and other dreaded animal diseases that are transmissible. His mark in Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, both at University of Maiduguri and University of Ilorin, will continue to linger in the memories of the students and the professional colleagues. Establishment of Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), first of its kind in Africa situated in the heart of Ilorin metropolis is an indelible mark that could not be erased in the minds of people.
Apart from the position of vice chancellorship, Professor Ambali undertook some national assignments, notable among which included Collation Officer for the 2015 Presidential Election in Niger State, Returning Officer for the 2015 Governorship Election in Niger State and Returning Officer for the 2017 Governorship Election in Ondo State.
Achievements and Laurels
Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali is a perfect example of a silent achiever. It’s like the society has eagle eyes that’s seeing those truly working towards its progress; that underscores the very reason why Professor Ambali, as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, won several awards. The most prominent among the recognitions is the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) conferred on him by the then Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) on September 29, 2014. He breaks the record as the first Nigerian serving Vice Chancellor to be so honoured with such a prestigious national recognition.
OON AWARD @ Abuja
His five years tenure at the helms of the University of Ilorin was very eventful and memorable as several landmark achievements were recorded in all spheres of the institution’s tripartite mandates of teaching, research and community service.
He set the pace in the area of inculcating into students the habit of keying in to ICT with the introduction of one-student one-I pad each. The first set of ipads was distributed to students on May 15, 2014 to all 100 level students of the university. The idea of the ipad was to boost the university’s ICT drive and enhance e-communication between the students and their lecturers, a mission that was well coordinated and accomplished.
When it comes to managing men and resources, he is known to be fair but firm. On assumption of office, Professor Ambali met 12 faculties and expanded it to 15 faculties with introduction of over 30 new courses.
He started the construction of a befitting Postgraduate School. Ambali constructed several sit-outs where students could relax and freshen up before entering their various lecture halls. He met 3,000 students on assumption and left the school with sum total students population of about 8,000. The springing up of various modern lecture halls made it possible for the students to be accommodated conveniently for lectures. Several hostels were built. Private hostels constructed under the arrangement of Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) while school itself did not relent from its own end. The construction of the 6.5km College of Health Sciences Link Road, completion of new Liaison Office and Guest House complex in Abuja and contruction of researchers’ lodge on campus cannot be forgotten in a hurry. These are few of his numerous achievements apart from staff development and capacity building for enhancement of effective service delivery and productivity.
Fulfillment and Realisation of Dreams
He did acknowledged God’s kindness to himself in all aspects of his life, in a chat. And as the saying goes: ‘a headmaster was once a school boy’, the young Ambali started life just like any ordinary child and began to climb the ladder of life and career. He has no doubt moved from grass to grace to eventually lead of one of the topmost federal universities in Nigeria, University of Ilorin. He managed the affairs of the better-by-far institution, the most sought-after university by admission seekers for five solid years with myriad of spectacular achievements.
Responding to question on his achievements in office, he has these to say: “First, I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to lead this great university. As far as being fulfilled is concerned I think I have every reason to thank God because nearly all my targets have been reached; of course, there are still many things to be done. Actually, what I have been able to accomplish so far, I have every reason to thank God.”
On Educational Development in Nigeria
Professor, Ambali, having served under several seasoned administrators as two-time Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maiduguri and as Head of Department at various times, has garnered needed experience and necessary requirements not only to oversee the running of a university but also to overtly identify problems militating against the growth and development of the country’s educational system. He succinctly pointed at inadequate funding as the major clog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress in the education sector.
When asked to give ways to rejig the education sector of the country, he responded, “I think the major challenge education is facing these days is the issue of availability of funds, resources; when I say resources for the university I mean academic staff, infrastructures (laboratories, lecture theatres, lecture rooms), consumables, security, transparency. The time God gave me the opportunity to head University of Ilorin, we tried our best in addressing these challenges. We have been able to inject confidence into the system, increase manpower and address security challenges by lightening some of the darkening areas. We also have better working relationship with security agencies which has helped us greatly.
In terms of students’ welfare, we have tried in getting more hostels built and making them more comfortable in-between lectures periods.”
He is also of the opinion that a 26 percent of the nation’s total budget be voted for education sector because the better educated a society, the more life will be comfortable for the leaders and the led. To him, it is not easy leading ignorant set of people; things will not be going on well in a society where the ignorant dominate, and little could be achieved. He believes when one is talking to educated set of people, they will be able to assimilate well and quickly too. “Government at all levels need to give greater attention to education because when such a percentage of the budget is allotted to education, the society will be better for it,” he stressed.
Philosophy of Life
Professor Ambali is a gentleman by all standards but always firm on decisions resting on the pillars of personal conviction. From his soft-speaking nature to courteous approach to issues, he is at his best getting others to drive a system to achieve targets. He does not believe in doing things in a hasty manner. His leadership style is not lost to speed and accuracy though he goes about his tasks calmly without being unnecessarily emotive. As most staff did acknowledged, he is a man with listening hears, very reliable and dependable. His doors is always widely open to everyone irrespective of status; and as he listens to advice, suggestions and welcomes ideas from others, he sieves them through the filters of objectivity for progressive results.
By his belief, he does not preoccupied his mind thinking about one enemy somewhere as he makes no enemy of anybody.
His life philosophy is simply centered on doing to others what he expects of them. He does cherish seeing others happy, hence he would always work towards putting smile on others’ faces. “I make efforts to be good to all I meet on my way without expecting anything in return but reward from God,” he said in a chat with him.
Joyous and Trying Moments
In the course of running the university administration, it wasn’t all bed of roses, there were high and low moments, there were trying moments; on these he remarked: “Let me start with the trying period. I thank God they were just few. A few weeks after my assumption of office, we experienced armed robbery between the gate and the campus. It happened about three times in sequence. It was a great challenge to me because students wanted to protest as they reacted. They actually wanted to go and attack the Fulanis and those residing on the university land considering them as prime suspects. It took me almost a whole night to convince them to drop the idea. We met at the management level and came up with strategies to stem the tide. The other one, about six months ago, there was controversy about one lecturer slapping a student which got the university into negative limelight. We thank God we were able to manage the situation. Another one was when fire gutted the Teak Plantation, it was saddening. But I thank God who has been helping me to paddle the canoe of the university.
The other aspect, I see every day as merry day as I like doing things that put smile on people’s face. I like to touch the lives of people around me and there are many instances which I cannot continue to name here.”
Marital Relationship
It is often said, behind every successful man, there is always a woman. It is the woman that takes care of the home front while the man is away striving out there as the bread winner of the family. The woman behind the unassuming vice chancellor is Dr. Mrs. Taiwo Ambali, whom he met as a young boy, at a time he was about proceeding for university education. On how the relationship kicked off, he has this to say: “I got married when I was in my twenties. I met my wife when she came to her uncle on holiday in Maiduguri, I was on holiday too. I was just completing my School of Basic Studies. I was just a humble young man, I wouldn’t say stubborn.” After the first interaction, a friendlier relationship was struck, which later grew and metamorphosed into marriage. They are today close to thirty years in matrimony and they are blessed with children”.
Advice to Successor and Students
A successful administration that is sustainable is the one that has capable successor to carry on. At Unilorin, there is good succession plan that produced worthy successor who has been sustaining the legacies of the past vice chancellors. It is based on this premise that he advised his successor, saying: “He should be a good listener. He would have to make proper consultation with his co-managers – the Deans, Sub deans, Dean of Students Affairs and HoDs – who are his ears and eyes on campus. He has to let them work as a team, a people with sense of purpose.
“The students should know that the incoming VC is their father, they should have that confidence that he has them in mind and that he would advise them correctly”
Town and Gown relationship
Community service is one of the core areas in which the university affects its environment positively. In this area, the vice chancellor has this to say: “We are trying our best as far as Town-and-Gown relationship is concerned. We are now tailoring our researches to meet the needs of our people in the society even as we make efforts in building strong relationship with the key players in the industrial production subsector of the economy. We attend the government and the people’s functions and usually invite them whenever we have functions creating avenue for us to rob minds together on common issues affecting us. We are working hard to getting it right”.
New Horizon
More work, they say, is the reward for a work well done. It is certain that a leader who knows he is occupying a tenured office will surely have plans on what next he would go into after serving his term. For Professor Ambali, it is not retirement yet but more time and dedicated efforts towards research and community service.
But after handing over, he plans to go and have some rest, or probably go on sabbatical leave somewhere in the Northern part of the country before again returning to the university. He still has the love of the University of Ilorin at heart. That was why he declared: “Anywhere I go, I will continue to work for the institution’s interest.”
End.