Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali has been named the vice chancellor-designate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

Ambali will succeed the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, whose five-year term ends on October 15, 2012.

The process leading to Ambali's appointment has been criticised by some of the contestants, who claimed that ethnic and religious biases informed his choice.

The institution's Registrar, Mrs. Olufolake Oyeyemi, said yesterday in Ilorin that a special Senate meeting was held at the Council Chamber of the school to ratify the appointment of Ambali.

She said: "At a special meeting held on Wednesday, July 25, 2012, the University Council received the report of the Council/Senate Selection Board.

"The board had been set up to assess and recommend to the Council suitable candidates for the position of the vice chancellor, which will become vacant at the expiration of the tenure of the current vice chancellor, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on October 15, 2012.

"Having carefully considered the recommendations and guided by the provisions of relevant extant laws, the Council expressed satisfaction in the procedure adopted, which followed the due process.

"Consequently, in compliance with the extant laws governing the appointment of vice chancellor, the Council approved the appointment of Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali with effect from October 16, 2012."

Ambali is a professor of veterinary medicine and acting dean of faculty of veterinary medicine of the university.

A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ambali was born on November 29, 1957 and married with children.

One of the six short-listed candidates for the office, Prof. Musibahu Akanji, has described the scoring scheme for the candidates as arbitrary.

He accused the UNILORIN Council and the selection board of deploying the scoring method to promote a desired candidate.

In this protest letter written to the Acting Pro-Chancellor and Acting Chairman of Council, the biochemistry teacher claimed that "with the antecedents of your board, I have no other alternative than to come to the painful conclusion that I cannot be guaranteed justice and fairness before your selection board. I, therefore, may not attend the interview." The interview was held last Monday.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has lauded the Governing Council and management staff of the university for embarking on a true democratic process to appoint the new vice chancellor.

In a goodwill message to the school, the governor, in statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba, expressed delight at the democratic process in the institution.