Muhammed Akanbi dies after two years as KWASU VC

Muhammed Akanbi, the vice-chancellor (VC) of the Kwara State University (KWASU), is dead.

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the state governor, confirmed this in a tweet mourning the academic on Monday.

The governor didn’t reveal details of what led to his death, although there are reports that the VC was briefly ill.

“The death of the Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU) Prof. Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi, SAN, is painful and shocking but we must submit to the decree of Allah who gives and takes,” the governor wrote.

“It is against that backdrop that we mourn the Vice Chancellor who answered Allah’s call tonight. He was a true and humble servant of Allah and we beseech our God, the Oft-Forgiving and Merciful, to grant him al-jannah Firdaus.”

It is understood that Akanbi, who was approved as KWASU’s VC in May 2022, died on Sunday night in Ilorin.

Akanbi got his LL.B from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 1997 and his LL.M at Lagos State University.

Subsequently, he obtained his Ph.D. from King’s College, London between 2004 and 2006.

It is against that backdrop that we mourn the Vice Chancellor who answered Allah’s call tonight. He was a true and humble servant of Allah and we beseech our God, the Oft-Forgiving and Merciful, to grant him al-jannah Firdaus.

— Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (@RealAARahman) November 20, 2022

Akanbi started his career at the legal department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a youth corp member.

He later joined the chambers of Olawoyin & Olawoyin for his pupillage and Oyedele Gafar &Co. in 1997.

The deceased began his academic career at the University of Ilorin in 1998 as Lecturer II.

He was appointed professor of law in the Department of Business Law in 2012.

Akanbi served as chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch between 2007 and 2009.

Before his death, Akanbi was a celebrated academic, law teacher, and legal icon.