THE weather is beautiful this evening. The soft-wavering sunlight gives a filtered tint to the roads of University of Ilorin main campus. Professor Abdul-Ganiyu Ambali, vice chancellor of the school, is seated on a cream colour, leather sofa in his office, as I walked in for the interview.

His gentle and warm look almost leapt out of his face as he extended his hand to welcome me to the roomy environment.

“Welcome to our university,” he says, sucking in some air.

This evening, his routine is interrupted. Earlier in the day, he and his management team had hosted a public lecture delivered by Professor Jacob Olupona of Harvard University, entitled, Rethinking Higher Education In Contemporary Nigeria: Reforms, Challenges And Possibilities.

“Before I was VC, by 3.30pm, 4pm, latest 5pm, I am at home with my family! But since becoming VC, the earliest time I close is 10.30pm, and by the time I get home, it would be getting to 11pm. Before, I did not have any expectation that somebody would call me on phone to discuss one problem or the other, but now, the phone must be left open 24/7. Also, I had all my weekends to myself, but now as early as 6.30am, people are already gathered wanting to discuss one thing or the other with you. But all the same, it is service to one’s country. I am particular about the service corner of it.”

Since he assumed office in October 2012, Prof. Ambali has kept a low profile. Fame and limelight, they are two words, which academic of immense repute dread. He knows the kind of damages they can do to a resume, if not well managed.

“So far, we have been able to improve upon our technology in-house, able to train our non-academic staff. The younger lecturers just recruited have just been trained. Our security division has been given extra training so as to be able to perform their duty more efficiently. In addition to the training of staff, the issue of ensuring that our laboratories are well equipped with the state-of-the art facilities so that they can carry out research that will be publishable at international level is also one of our top priorities,” Ambali says, outlining his agenda since October 2012 when he became the VC.

He says smugly, “some of the equipment have started arriving and we are going to devote more time in achieving that. In the case of students as well, I’m trying to create conducive atmosphere for efficient learning. So, we have embarked on improving the classroom facilities, classroom environment by ensuring that the place is well lit.”

With a good wit and sense of humour, he says, “we have been able to lay our fibre optics around the campus with the sole aim of making our Internet facilities more efficient. Students’ accommodation is also important because after going to classes for lectures, they also need comfortable place to rest. I know the government could not provide the students with accommodation facilities that we need. Therefore, we have started partnering with entrepreneurs and business men within and outside Kwara State and I am happy to tell you that a lot of interest has been shown by friends of the University and now, three of them have signed the BOT agreement and more people are still coming showing interest in investing in providing more accommodation to our students. With this, we will be able to have more students on campus and put them under our control.”

He adds, “linking the university with international community is work in progress. My predecessor did a lot of work in this regard, and we are going to continue. We have just had a public lecture delivered by distinguished professor from Harvard. We are expecting some other scholars from the University of Wisconsin, they are also visiting us... all these are partnerships that are bringing values both in term of intellectual exchange and hopefully, in term of equipment and facilities into our laboratories. If I am able to do all these, I think, within the next five years or four years and nine months, I will feel satisfied that I have also added my own contribution to the development of University of Ilorin.”

How did he manage to carry along his colleagues who contested the post of VC with him, giving the fact that some of them were so critical of his choice?

He smiles and waives his hands to suggest all is settled. “Well, immediately I came I made them to realise that it is only God who chooses a leader,” he says. “And that five years in the life of a man is just like five seconds. Also, I interacted with everybody on an equal basis. Whether you supported me or not, I consider you as my responsibility. Irrespective of your view, I treat you as my best friend. Then, people will continue to assess you based on your action and inaction and at the end of the day, people will say let’s give him a chance to know the kind of person he is. I do not know what has happened, but I think people have assessed me and they probably feel more comfortable doing business with me. All what I want is to contribute my own quota to the development of the University of Ilorin. Nothing more, nothing less.”

During the public lecture, Prof. Jacob Olupona made reference to an MoU he facilitated between the Federal Ministry of Education and Harvard University which later turned sour, will Unilorin take advantage of this lecture and reactivate the MoU?

According to him, “after the lecture, we had roundtable discussion with the guest speaker and that MoU issue was one of the matters discussed. I called all my Deans and we interacted with the lecture, and we were able to find a way out.”

Ambali continues, “this is because if at institutional level, Harvard can’t go too far with us, on individual level, we should be able to have business with each other. Towards this end, at faculty and departmental levels as well as individual scientist level, we are trying to build a relationship in the area of collaborative research that should be established and pursued. Then, exchange of scholars as we did with Prof. Olupona now, if along the way, we identify those that we think have things that we could share, we invite them. And our students could be sponsored to undergo their post-graduate study in Harvard. Those are the areas upon which we want to establish relationship.

Professor Ambali is leading the University of Ilorin’s team to visit Harvard University from April 2 to 5. He will also deliver a lecture on Higher Education And Its Challenges In Developing Countries: The Nigerian Experience at The Thompson Room, Barker Centre on Wednesday, April 3.

The magic of stable academic calendar at Unilorin?

“I think the best way I want to lead my staff is to make them have confidence in me. I want to be transparent in doing business with them. I will not deny them any of their rights, so long such rights do not impinge on other people’s rights. I will carry them along in whatever I do. Most of my actions would be human resource development,” he says.

For the VC, once someone’s agenda is human centred, whatever is being done will be appreciated. “By so doing, they will also be committed to the same goal. While on campus, I will try to make sure that they enjoy all the facilities such as light, water and anything that will challenge  any of those agenda, I will make sure I tackle them head long,” he muses.

And the funds to ensure the realisation of these lofty goals?

“I must thank the Federal Government, because through the establishment of TETFUND, it has made a lot of positive changes to university system,” Ambali retorts.

According to him, “University of Ilorin is one of those institutions that benefitted from that special intervention fund from the Federal Government of Nigeria. With that, we’ve been able to use it to address some of our challenges. I will also commend friends of Unilorin for their support. We also intend to improve our Advancement unit, that gets our alumni informed; and are connected with the university. The university has been able to contribute immensely to the manpower need of the country. I am glad they have been able to excel and now occupy positions of authority across the country both in private and public sectors. By so doing, we intend to reach out to them, and I am sure they will remember their alma matter and be able to do one or two things for the school.”

He says in a deep voice, “If Nigeria needs a way out of her hydra-headed challenges, the truth is that the solution lies in better and more quality education. When Frantz Fanon wrote in his The Wretched of the Earth (1963) that ‘each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it’, part of the mission of the University is helping the nation to fulfill its mission through education. And, this is why the University of Ilorin is fully committed to, and passionate about, teaching, research and community service because they constitute the future of our nation.”

According to him,  “that higher education is the backbone of development is a well known belief. In this direction, Nigeria has always been opening more room for higher education in the country. For example, between 1960 and 1998, Nigeria established 39 universities, 57 Colleges of Education and 38 Polytechnics making a total of 134 higher institutions.”

Ambali’s dramatic voice windsurfed in his office, as he points to the data on his table. “The University as the epicenter of higher education has witnessed tremendous increase in Nigeria. From 45 universities in 2000, Nigeria increased the university education space to 56 by 2005 and by 2009, the number of universities increased to 95. Today, Nigeria has 128 universities, 40 Federal, 38 State and 50 Private, including the three Federal universities established this year,” he explains, patiently.

Displaying a set of white teeth, Prof. Ambali says warmly, “despite the increasing number of higher education institutions in Nigeria, such that there is no state without a federal university, there are still problems of access with the universities unable to cope with the demand for admission yearly.”

He takes a deep breath and waited for some seconds before he continued. “At the University of Ilorin for instance, 64,121 candidates met the minimum criterion (scoring 200 and above) for the current 2012/2013 admission exercise conducted last year. Though 43,871 candidates sat for the pre-registration screening exercise, 23,871, which is 54.4 per cent of those who sat for the screening test, passed. The University ultimately matriculated 7,098 students who constitute 29.7 per cent of those who are qualified and 11.10 per cent of those who made the minimum score of 200 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME),” he says, his eyes filled with a lot of emotions.

Apart from access, problems of quality, he reveals that funding and infrastructure are also there, “not to talk of brain drain through which staff sent abroad for further training refuse to return home because of better facilities. There is no doubt that our higher education needs re-thinking and re-positioning to serve our present and future better than it does now.”

For the erudite scholar, “The journey to a brighter and better future for Nigeria and Nigerians begins from sound education from the basic to the higher levels.”

WHO is Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali?

“He is a person who tries to be God fearing. Who always remembers that whatever he does, he is going to give account to God. That has been by guiding principle. That if I die today, I should be able to give account to God, that this is what I did, and this is the reason why I did it. Because I always believe that whatever you do in this world, make sure you can defend it in the next world. Don’t do it because Mr. A or Mr. B, or my wife, or my children asked me to do it, because when the chips are down and you are before your God, none of them will be around to defend you. So, I always want to do something that is defensible before God,” he says.

What do you admire in human beings?

“I admire honesty and dedication to duty. I hate people not telling me the truth. I do not like people wanting to deceive me to get one favour or the other. That kind of behaviour put me off. But anybody that displays commitment to his duty, wanting to do something for the university, or wanting to help you to achieve one thing or the other without expecting anything in return, those are the people that I admire,” he grins, flashing his teeth.

Do you have time for leisure?

“No! By the time I get home, mentally and physically I am tired. One just goes to bed. And as early as 5am, 6am, one is up again, ready to face the campus. But by the time you do all these and you put a smile on someone’s face, either in term of pronouncing him or her a graduate after satisfying all conditions, the joy you bring to the man and his family far compensate for sleepless nights and headaches you have in maintaining uninterrupted academic calendar,” the scholar says, eyes now tired.

Preferred colour and dressense?

“I like blue colour,” he laughs “and occasionally white! I like putting on this traditional dress.”

Your favourite food?

“Fried rice! I like amala, being a native of Ilorin. I have no choice. In fact, it is amala first, and fried rice!

Your perception of life?

“My lifestyle? I usually leave everything to God to decide. I know that we can’t do much on our own. We can only achieve what God has planned for you. And you can only go at the pace predetermined by God. I like leaving everything in God’s hands, because, He will never disappoint you. Whatever decision God takes in my own life, is what I accept, and I am always happy.”

Legacy you wish to leave behind?

“I want to leave behind a legacy of improved, quality of staff both academic and non-academic. I want to leave a legacy whereby students, during my tenure, would have seen the change in the quality of education that they get at the University of Ilorin, so that the slogan: being better by far, will be seen in our students and among the communities that will serve,” he retorts.

BORN in November 1957, Prof. Ambali is married and has children. He became a Professor of Veterinary Medicine in October 1995.

He was appointed Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin on October 17, 2012. He had his secondary education at Government Secondary School (GSS) Jalingo, Taraba State. From there, he proceeded to the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria.

From 1976 to 1981, he was at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria. He had his post-graduate programme at the University of Liverpool (L’pool), United Kingdom. He was also at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK.

A Fellow of the College, College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria, he is a member of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria and College of Veterinary Surgeons, Nigeria. He also has Animal License Certificates (Royal Veterinary College, London, University of London UK).