‘He always put the university first’ — VC-designate mourns Yazid, UNILORIN pro-chancellor

Abidu Yazid, chairman of the governing council and pro-chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), is dead.

According to a statement by Fola Olowoleni, registrar of the university, Yazid died on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday by Kunle Akogun, director of corporate affairs of UNILORIN, Wahab Egbewole, vice-chancellor designate of the university, described Yazid’s death as “confounding, confusing and totally unbelievable”.

Egbewole was recently appointed as vice-chancellor, and will take over from Sulyman Abdulkareem, whose tenure will end on October 15.

Speaking on Yazid’s death, Egbewole described the late pro-chancellor as a model of professionalism and courage.

“I have had the very rare opportunity of sitting in council with the late chairman and wish to put on record the way he conducted proceedings depicting extreme candour, courage of conviction and always putting the University of Ilorin first,” Egbewole was quoted as saying.

“He was a thoroughbred administrator, astute manager of human and material resources, and a firm believer in Almighty Allah. He was incorruptible, highly detribalised and a great thinker.

“As painful as the demise is, we are consoled that the late Mallam Yazid used the opportunity to serve Allah, his creator, and he discharged the assignment as part of his divine worship.

“May Allah be pleased with him, forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanah Firdaus. May Allah comfort the family and grant them the fortitude to bear this great and irreparable loss.”

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement by Garba Shehu, his spokesperson, said the “nation has lost a skillful administrator and loyal public servant”.

“May Allah repose his soul and grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss,” Buhari added.