By Abubakar Imam
On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the tenure of Prof. Suleiman Funsho Ambali as Deputy Vice Chancellor(Management Services), University of Ilorin, came to an end.
The development was unexpected to many of his admirers within and outside the shores of the University, including yours sincerely. We had all thought that he would be elected for another term in office.
But it happened the other way! He was replaced!!
As a Muslim, I have accepted the turn of events as being the best for him. This is based on the conviction that nothing happens without the consent of the Almighty Allah.
But all said and done, holding a position is one thing. Proving to be worthy of it is another thing. The former DVC combined the two admirably and competently and not without the fear of God.
Prof. Ambali was not just elected into his former position, he proved that he deserved it. He did everything within his province to assist the administration of his brother, friend and colleague, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, to succeed and to prepare the University for the next level.
As the chief scribe of Ilorin Emirate Staff Association, University of Ilorin, which Prof. Ambali serves as Chairman, I can say without fear of contradiction that the respected scholar and admirable administrator discharged the responsibilities of the office with absolute diligence and untainted patriotism. He was very passionate all through.
Nothing lasts forever, says an adage. No matter how good or bad a situation is, it would definitely come to an end.
The time for Prof. Ambali to serve as DVC (MS) has come and gone. I am, however, convinced that better things would come to him again and again within the University of Ilorin system and even beyond it.
Happily, the renowned Professor of Environmental Toxicology has moved on. He has resumed his “previous and permanent position as a teacher at the University”.
I was not surprised when I gave him a call on Saturday, which was two days after he completed his tenure and he told me that he was delivering a lecture to 300 level students of his Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. That is how a thoroughbred academic should behave.
Prof. Ambali didn’t give me the room to express any form of solidarity or words of consolation on the changes. He told me that “what happened was for the good of the system.” He urged me not to think that he lost the position but to see it as a routine development that was bound to happen.
He asked me to pray for the Vice Chancellor and members of his team as well as the University to succeed as he reiterated the fact that Prof. Egbewole remains a wonderful leader.
Prof.Ambali explained that he would continue to work and pray that the vision of Prof. Egbewole to see the University becomes the best in Nigeria, one of the ten most outstanding in Africa and among the frontline 500 universities in the world is not only achieved but also sustained during and after the tenure of the ever-smiling Senior Advocate of Nigeria. What a patriot!
He urged other staff of the University to cooperate fully with the distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law for the University of Ilorin to remain the better by far institution of higher learning.
I, therefore, felicitate with Prof. Ambali and his colleague, the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho, for successfully completing their tenures. I wish each of them a superlative future.
Imam is Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Staff Association, University of Ilorin & National Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU).
