I appreciate the selection of Prof. Ambali as the Acting Vice Chancellor, owing to your impressive academic pedigree and administrative excellence, particularly in previous roles as Director of Academic Planning and Dean of Student Affairs at Kwara State University, Malete. I urged you to justify the trust placed on you by working diligently to elevate the University to world-class standards.
— Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR
By Abdulrahman Aliagan,
In a significant endorsement of academic advancement and community development, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, has called on the people of Ilorin Emirate and the entire Kwara State to intensify their quest for knowledge as a pathway to building a more enlightened and prosperous society.
The Emir made this appeal at his palace in Ilorin when the pioneer Acting Vice Chancellor of the newly established AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University, Oke-Ogba, Ganmo, Prof. AbdulRauf Ambali, paid him a courtesy visit to seek royal blessings ahead of formally assuming office. Prof. Ambali was led by the Ologbondoroko of Ogbondoroko in Asa Local Government Area, Alhaji Saad Aminullah Olorunlalaaro, accompanied by members of the academia and prominent community stakeholders.
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari emphasized that education is not only the key to individual empowerment but a critical tool for moral development, societal transformation, and poverty eradication. “Education promotes piety, discipline, and civic responsibility,” he noted, while expressing satisfaction with the growing number of intellectuals — Professors and Ph.D. holders — emerging from Ilorin Emirate.
The Emir lauded the selection of Prof. Ambali as the Acting Vice Chancellor, citing his impressive academic pedigree and administrative excellence, particularly in his previous roles as Director of Academic Planning and Dean of Student Affairs at Kwara State University, Malete. He urged him to justify the trust placed in him by working diligently to elevate the University to world-class standards.
He also praised the University’s proprietor, Dr. AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin, for his vision and commitment to community development through education, describing the establishment of the institution as a milestone that will benefit the entire Kwara State and beyond.
In a sermon delivered at the palace, prominent Islamic scholar Dr. Aminullah Olohunoyin prayed for continued wisdom and longevity for the Emir and advised Prof. Ambali to lead the university with sincerity, integrity, and the fear of Allah.
During a separate homage visit to the Khalifat Adabiyyah, Sheikh Abdul Kadir Adisa Kamaldeen, the spiritual leader echoed similar sentiments, calling for more private and public universities in Kwara State. He encouraged Prof. Ambali to adopt a leadership style rooted in fairness, innovation, and transparency.
Prof. Ambali’s delegation included members of the academic community from Kwara State University, distinguished personalities from Ogbondoroko, family members, and associates. Notable among them were Prof. Binta Suleiman, Head of KWASU Osi Campus; Dr. Muftau Yahaya, former Chairman of Asa Local Government; and Ustaz Tajudeen Ambali, the Chief Imam of Ogbondoroko.
In a show of international support, Prof. Muhammed Nasif Suratman of the University of Technology Mara, Malaysia, and Dr. Bashir of Algerian University both commended the appointment of Prof. Ambali, expressing confidence that his global academic exposure and deep experience will position AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University among leading institutions in Africa.
The university, a product of a passionate vision to expand educational access and drive grassroots development, has already generated substantial interest among academic and policy stakeholders, with several previously published feature stories highlighting its commitment to innovation, community engagement, and excellence. Under Prof. Ambali’s leadership, expectations are high that the institution will deliver on its mandate of transforming education in Kwara State and beyond.
