UNILORIN mourns Pro-Chancellor, Abidu Yazid

The Registrar and Secretary to the  Governing Council of the University of Ilorin, Dr Folaranmi Olowoleni has announced the death of the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mallam Abidu Ranfidandi Yazid, OON.

Olowoleni said in a memo to the university community on Thursday that the incident happened in the early hours of the day.

The statement reads: “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”.

Yazid, 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 two weeks ago, he announced the appointment of Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, as the university’s Vice Chancellor, following the conclusion of a thorough selection process.

In his reaction, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem described Yazid ‘s death 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”.

In the statement by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, Abdulkareem said that 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.

Abdulkareem condoled with the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and the university’s Chancellor, who is also the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, as well as members of the Governing Council of the university over his death.

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

He also sympathised with Yazid’s family, friends and colleagues.

While praying Allah to grant the university and members of Yazid’s immediate family the fortitude to bear his death, Abdulkareem prayed for the forgiveness of his shortcomings and for him to make Aljannah Fridaous his final abode.