Unilorin VC mourns Tamuno

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), has described the death of the pioneer head of the institution, Prof. Tekena Tamuno, as a big loss to the Nigerian academic community and especially the University of Ilorin.

Prof. Tamuno, who was appointed the pioneer Principal of the then University College, Ilorin, between October 1975 and 1976, died last Saturday in Ibadan, at the age of 83.

Reacting to the death of the renowned historian and distinguished University administrator, Prof. Ambali stated that the late Prof. Tamuno would be remembered for his vision and pioneering role in laying a solid foundation for the University of Ilorin upon which generations of Vice-Chancellors after him are building.

In a press statement released on his behalf by the institution’s Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, the Vice-Chancellor stated further that the late Prof. Tamuno’s foresight and dedication and those of his successors contributed in no small way to the current pre-eminent position of the University of Ilorin in the comity of universities in Nigeria and the Africa generally.

He, therefore, commiserated with the Tamuno Family of Okrika and the people of Rivers State on the death of their son. While praying Almighty God to grant the soul of the former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) eternal rest, Prof. Ambali also prayed God to grant the members of his immediate family the fortitude to bear the great loss.