Tamale, May 6, 2025 

The University for Development Studies (UDS) is plunged into deep sorrow following the passing of two distinguished members of its academic community: Professor Shaibu Abdul Ganiyu, Dean of the School of Business, and Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Atami, also of the School of Business. Both tragic losses occurred on the morning of Monday, May 5, 2025, casting a heavy pall of grief over the entire university.

Prof. Abdul Ganiyu, a highly respected scholar and administrator, was known for his remarkable leadership, humility, and unyielding commitment to academic excellence. Under his stewardship, the School of Business saw significant growth and innovation, firmly positioning itself as a center of excellence in business education. A devout Muslim, Prof. Ganiyu has since been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic tradition.

Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Atami, a revered academic and devoted clergyman, also served the School of Business with unwavering dedication. He was widely admired for his passion for teaching, his spiritual counsel, and his deep concern for the moral and intellectual growth of his students. The University will communicate the burial arrangements for Rev. Dr. Atami as soon as the family finalizes and shares the details.

The double tragedy has left a deep void in the hearts of faculty, staff, and students alike. Both men were not only academic pillars of the University but also mentors, leaders, and role models whose legacy will live on through the countless lives they touched.

Their absence will be profoundly felt across the University, in the lecture halls, in faculty meetings, and in the everyday interactions that formed the fabric of our academic community. Their contributions have been instrumental in shaping the character and future of the School of Business, and their memories will remain etched in our hearts.

On behalf of the entire UDS community, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends, and colleagues of our dearly departed staff. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time. As we mourn, we also celebrate the lives and legacies of Prof. Abdul Ganiyu and Rev. Dr. Atami — two giants of our university whose impact will never be forgotten.

May their souls rest in perfect peace.

Story by:
Abdul Hayi Moomen
(UDS Media)