By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ilorin, Mallam Abidu Ranfidandi Yazid is dead.

The Registrar of the University, who is also the Secretary to the Governing Council, Dr Folaranmi M. Olowoleni, announced this on Thursday in Ilorin in a memo to the University community.

Dr. Olowoleni’s statement said: “This is to formally notify you of the sudden demise of our beloved Council Chairman, Mallam Abidu Rafindadi Yazid, OON, which sad event occurred at the early hours of today, Thursday, 22nd September, 2022.

“We pray God for the repose of his soul and also pray God to grant him eternal rest. May God forgive his shortcomings and admit him into Aljannah Firdaous.

“The University Community condoles with the family, the Katsina Emirate, the Katsina State Government and the entire people of Katsina State. We pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

The late Mallam Yazid, who was an outstanding civil servant and a former Secretary to the Katsina State Government, was appointed as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ilorin last year.

In one of his last official assignments on earth, the late Pro-Chancellor announced, a fortnight ago (Thursday, September 8, 2022), the appointment of Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, as the University’s new Vice Chancellor, following the conclusion of a thorough selection process.

In his reaction to the sad news, the University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, described the death of Mallam Yazid as “very shocking, unexpected and one that is very painful to all the entire staff and students of the University, particularly at this point in time when his services were most needed by the institution and the nation’s university system.

Prof.Abdulkareem, in a statement signed by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, said that the late Mallam Yazid was a fantastic and hardworking leader who served the University with competence and dedication, recalling that the late Pro-Chancellor brought to bear great humility, uncommon civility and infectious sensitivity in the discharge of his responsibilities.

The Vice-Chancellor stated that the University and the nation would surely miss the services and patriotism of Mallam Yazid, who was evidently one of the best of his generation.

Prof. Abdulkareem condoled with the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and the Chancellor of the University, who is also the Emir of Katsina, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, CFR, as well as members of the Governing Council of the University of Ilorin over his death.

The Vice-Chancellor also condoled with the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Masari, CFR, and the people of Katsina State on the loss of a great son of the state.

He also sympathised with the family, friends and colleagues of Mallam Yazid.

While praying Allah to grant the University of Ilorin and members of Mallam Yazid’s immediate family the fortitude to bear his death, Prof. Abdulkareem prayed Allah to forgive his shortcomings and make Aljannah Fridaous his final abode.

End