History was again made on Monday the 15th of October, 2012 at the University of Ilorin as a new vice-chancellor took over the mantle of leadership of that great institution. At that epoch-making event, Professor Ishaq Oloyede formally handed over to his successor, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, the immediate past Acting Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the university. By tradition, Professor Oloyede completed his 5-year tenure in office as vice-chancellor after he took over from his predecessor, Professor Samshudeen Amali, now Vice-Chancellor, Nazarawa State University, Keffi. Professor Amali was in office between 2002 and 2007.

Going down memory lane, Professor Oba AbdulRaheem, the Talban of Ilorin, served the institution meritoriously between 1997 to 2002, while the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Akin Akinkuqbe's name will forever be written in gold. He occupied this exalted position in 1976 and in 1978, Professor Akin Adesola took over. Professor S.A. Toye and Emeritus Professor, Adeoye Adeniyi also served this institution creditably well. Between 1992 and 1997, it was the turn of Professor J.O. Oyinloye. Since it was established in 1976, the University of Ilorin has produced ten vice-chancellors including the new man at the elms of affairs, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali. It is on record that the various vice-chancellors have played one role or the other in the upliftment of the institution to make it an enviable university today, not only in Nigeria, but the entire African continent and even across the globe. The successions recorded so far indicate that there is nothing permanent in life except change. It is therefore the good or the bad that one does that lives after one.

In his remarks, Professor Oloyede said that there was no success without a successor and that he could not be congratulated until his successor succeeded.

Professor Oloyede also recalled that when he was announced as the VC of the university in October 2007 and there was outpouring of congratulatory messages from good-spirited and well-meaning friends and associates, he told them he deserved prayers and not congratulations. According to him, his case was not different from that of a doctor that wanted to enter a theatre to perform a surgical operation and who could only be congratulated when the operation turned out to be successful.

He described his 5-year tenure as eventful as he was able to do his best in lifting the University to a higher level than he met it.

It is now the turn of Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali who has taken over the mantle of leadership of the university for another 5 years, an assignment which most scholars described as an herculean one. Professor Ambali, who hails from Ilorin in Kwara State, is a robust scholar of international standard, well respected all over the world among his professional colleagues. He has spent most of his life teaching, researching and engaging the society at the University of Maiduguri and United Kingdom. Professor Ambali's sterling records as head of department, dean of faculty and council member of the University of Maiduguri at various times are testimonies of his academic acumen and administrative qualities.

Among his greatest challenges is to maintain the vision and mission statement of the institution which is to be an international centre of excellence in learning, research, probity and service to humanity and provide world-class environment for learning, research and community service. He should equally work tirelessly to surpass the achievements of his predecessors.

Tunde Akanbi writes from Ilorin via tundeakanbibabby@yahoo.co.uk

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