Posted by Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, the University of Ilorin's designate vice chancellor, has referred to the passing of Malam Abidu Rafindadi Yazid, the institution's pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council, as confiding, perplexing, and unbelievable.
“The news was bewildering, confusing, and absolutely incredible,” he said, expressing shock over the unexpected death of the university's governing council chairman.
The shock, according to Professor Egbewole, was brought on by the fact that they had a lengthy phone conversation just one day before Mallam Yazid passed away in which they “discussed extensively the need to organize a befitting valedictory program in honor of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem.”
The late Chairman graciously approved my proposal, which I described as “another act of the Chairman's magnanimity,” but which, regrettably, he would no longer be around to complete “as the will of Allah has been done in this case,” said the Vice Chancellor-designate, whose appointment was announced by the late Mallam Yazid on September 8, 2022.
“I have had the very rare opportunity to sit in Council with the late Chairman and wish to put on record the way he conducted proceedings depicting extreme candor, courage of conviction, and always putting the University of Ilorin first,” Professor Egbewole, who is also a member of the Governing Council, said.
‘A thoroughbred administrator, intelligent manager of human and material resources, and a fervent believer in Almighty Allah,' he claimed of the late Mallam Yazid. He was a remarkable thinker, very detribalized, and incorruptible.
The newly appointed Vice Chancellor noted that the late Mallam Yazid “remained focused, resolute and fully committed to the job” during all of their interactions on the Council floor.
Professor Egbewole said that Governor Aminu Masari “described the late Governing Council Chairman in flowery words and deemed University of Ilorin exceedingly lucky to have him” during the Governing Council's visit to the Governor of Katsina State in September of last year.
As tragic as his passing was, the Vice Chancellor-designate added, “We are comforted that the late Mallam Yazid took the chance to serve Allah, his creator, and he completed the task as part of his divine worship (‘ibadah).”
“May Allah be pleased with him, overlook his flaws, and bestow Aljanah Firdaus upon him. May Allah solace the family and give them strength to endure this enormous and irreparable loss,” he added.