Date: 2014-01-05

The National Association of Nigerian Female Students (NANFS) has described the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, as “a role model of accountability in public service, a silent achiever, the icon of hope in Nigeria, and a man driven by a consuming passion to render selfless service,” for which the Association has conferred a ‘Good Leadership’ Award on him.

The President of the Association, Miss Funmi Farinde, stated this while presenting the Plaque of the Award to the Vice-Chancellor in his office penultimate Friday (December 20, 2013).

Miss Farinde said that female students in the country are aware of Prof. Ambali’s role “in ensuring that students of the University of Ilorin receive the best education in the most conducive environment.”

The NANFS leader specifically praised the Vice-Chancellor for substantially reducing the accommodation and transportation problems facing the students as well as the special care given to the female students with no fewer than five hostels specifically dedicated to them.

Miss Farinde, who is a student of Lagos State University, Ojo (LASU), noted that the University of Ilorin is the only public university in the country that had not been involved in the incessant strikes by university staff unions in the country in the past 12 years.

The student leader pointed out that the Unilorin Vice-Chancellor had laid a unique standard in university administration and called on all heads of public institutions in the country to “take a cue from Prof. Ambali’s philosophy, who, despite all he has done, does not believe in blowing the dust about his achievement”, adding that “this, we believe is one of the pragmatic qualities of a good leader.”

Receiving the Award on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Yisa Fakunle, said that the entire University of Ilorin community was delighted by the honour.

Prof. Fakunle stressed that the University places a lot of emphasis on good conduct by both staff and students, adding that decent dressing and zero tolerance for cultism are some of the hallmarks of the University of Ilorin that distinguish it from other tertiary institutions in the country.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor therefore urged the officials o f NANFS, who came from various universities across the country, to take the Unilorin lesson along with them to their various universities.

Prof. Fakunle assured the student leaders that theUniversity of Ilorin is trying to ensure that all necessary infrastructural facilities that could facilitate learning are provided.

With Prof. Fakunle to receive the female student leaders were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Felix Oladele; the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Obafemi; the Bursar, Mr. Abiodun Saka Yusuf; the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Abayomi Omotesho; the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun and the Principal Assistant Registrar (Vice-Chancellor’s Office), Mr. A. Sayuti.

Other NANFS leaders on the visit included Lynda Moses, Vice President; Tolani Zaccheus, P.R.O; Jumoke Ahmed and Aishat Afolabi.