Since he took over as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali has been pre-occupied by two things: sustaining the high academic standards and maintaining a smooth calendar through concerted efforts and collaboration with every segment of the university community including lecturers, non-academic staff and students as well as the host community, Ilorin.
Prof. Ambali who made the remark when members of the Third Estate Forum paid him a courtesy call, said his priority was to sustain peaceful coexistence in the university and improve on the facilities and standards of the 38 year old institution.
Chairman of Third Estate Forum, Dr. Yusuf Lawal told the Economic Confidential that since his assumption of office as the Vice Chancellor Unilorin, Professor Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali has displayed exemplary qualities of a leader who is compassionate and responsive to the yearnings of the members of his constituency with impressive initiatives being undertaken to reposition the university to greatness.
A member of the academic staff also told the Economic Confidential that while Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) attempted to go on a strike, the University of Ilorin refuses to join, after a wide consultation between the Vice Chancellor, management, academics, students and the immediate community who believe that such actions could disrupt academic calendar, jeopardize the standard of education and the favourable rating of the university.
Born on November 29, 1957 in Ilorin Emirate of Kwara State, Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali has been a Professor of Veterinary Medicine since October 1995 after joining the academia as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri in September 1982.
A former student of Government Secondary School, Jalingo, Taraba State, he attended Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria where he obtained Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 1981. He later went to the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom where he obtained Master of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc) in 1984 and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Veterinary Medicine in 1989.
Apart from attending various courses at home and abroad, Professor Ambali is a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria, Member, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, and obtained Animal License Certificates of Royal Veterinary College, London and Certificate on Fish Vaccination from Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences Cell Biology, The Netherlands.
As an academic, Ambali has received scholarships and fellowships in his field of study from government, World Bank, Wellcome Trust and Fellowship among others. He also received National Merit Award of Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria.
He is a member of learned societies, which include Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Society for Animal Production, the New York Academy of Science, the American Society for the Advancement of Science, European Association of Fish Pathologists, World Poultry Science Association, International Society for Food, Agriculture and Environment and Nigerian Society for Microbiology.
He had also held other academic positions including Head, Small Animal Clinic, University of Maiduguri Veterinary Teaching Hospital; Wellcome Trust Visiting Research Fellow, Royal Veterinary College, University of London and as External Examiner at various Departments of Veterinary Medicine in Nigeria’s universities. He was also Director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri;
Foundation Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin; Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri; Chairman, Biological Garden Management Board, University of Ilorin; Head of Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Chairman,
As a scholar he has written and published several articles in refereed Journals and is happily married with children.
SOURCE: Economic Confidential