Two years on, Prof. Ambali has substantially proved his mettle, as he has ably led a formidable team of committed academics and visionary administrators on a deliberate mission to build a world-class University. The evidences of this good work are visible all over the campus. And as the Vice-Chancellor marks his 57th birthday this Saturday (November 29, 2014), in his usual low-key manner, of course, Town & Gown will today itemise 57 of the major accomplishments, personal and official, that have invariably hallmarked what is gradually becoming the 'Brand Ambali'. Although he started making his marks right from his teeny years, for the purpose of this write-up, we will place more emphasis on Prof. Ambali's landmark accomplishments since he attained the professorial status and, in particular, since he became the Vice-Chancellor of the Better-by-far University a little over two years ago. Here we go:
*Born on November 19, 1957; *Bagged the DVM Degree from ABU, Zaria -1981*Joined the services of the University of Maiduguri as an Assistant Lecturer -1982;*Awarded the M.V.Sc Degree, University of Liverpool, UK – 1984;*Awarded the PhD, Degree, University of Liverpool, UK – 1989;*Became a Member of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria, (MCVSN) – 2004;*Became Professor of Veterinary Medicine – 1995;*Recipient of Wellcome Trust Fellowship;*Head, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri;*Director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri;*Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri;*Member of University of Maiduguri Governing Council;*Member, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Management Board; *Coordinator of Bird Flu Surveillance for North East Zone. *Founding Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin.
*Became the 9th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin - October 2012;*Conferred with the National Honours of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) – September 2014;*Led Unilorin to be ranked the best University in Nigeria by world universities' ranking agency, the 4ICU – July 2014;*Introduced new multi-functional ID cards for staff and students;*Launched the One-student-one-I-pad initiative;*Library digitization and automation;*Expansion of academic programme;*Brought Walter Carrington to Nigeria for Unilorin's 29th Convocation Lecture;*Sustaining Unilorin's NUDTAS Award winning streak;*Uncommon commitment to technological infrastructural development;*Massive campus-wide physical infrastructural development;*Led Unilorin to become the most preferred university by admission seekers in the 2014/2015 academic session;*Initiated the 100 hectares oil palm plantation;*Massive hostel development by private developers;*Facelift for the Main Auditorium with a new giant LED screen;*New Multi-purpose hall;*First-of-its-kind Researchers Village;*Completed and commissioned the Central Research laboratory;*Relocation of University School to a more spacious site.
*Massive illumination of campus streets;*Secured a harvest of top-level endorsements for the University;*Initiated a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with an Information Technology company for the provision of a high-speed campus-wide Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Network;*More Unilorin dons becoming Vice-Chancellors of other universities;*His contagious visionary leadership has manifested in the use of e-voting by the Student Union to elect new executive committee members, the first in the country;*Initiated move with Globacom for ICT development partnership;*Initiated move with a private indigenous company for the generation of 5 megawatts of electricity for the University; *Initiated proactive measures to prevent the spread of Ebola to the University.
*Led Unilorin to win the Central Bank of Nigeria's Award of 'The Best Tertiary Institution in Promoting the CBN's Cashless Policy';*Bagged the West African Students Union's (WASU) Leadership Award for Educational Excellence;*Winner of The Distinguished International Merit Award for Excellence as the Best Performing Vice-Chancellor of all Times;*Winner of the National Association of Nigerian Female Students' (NANFS) Good Leadership Award;*Inducted into the National Association of Oduduwa Students Hall of Fame;*Bagged the VFPAN Meritorious Award of Excellence;*Bagged the University of Manchester's 2014 Award for Distinguished Service to the Society;*Bagged the 'Academic Icon' Award of the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students.
*Initiated several collaborative pacts with foreign universities;*Signed MoU for the establishment of a sugarcane bio-factory in the University;*Signed MoU for the establishment of a 20-hectare multi-million naira tomato, soya beans and castor plant farm in the University;*Promotion of team work to an art;*Establishment of Unilorin Water Enterprises;*Launch of the Unilorin Mobile Apps.
With all these landmarks, and still counting, there is no doubt that it has been 57 very eventful and remarkable years for this consummate academic and astute administrator. Join me in wishing the multiple award-winning Vice-Chancellor Allah's wisdom and continuous guidance in the service to humanity.
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