Egbewole, Oloyede others honour Yusuf Ali at OAU
By Abubakar Imam
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, and JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, were among several dignitaries from far and near that converged on Ile-Ife, Osun State, last Tuesday (July 30, 2024) to honour the Principal Partner of Ghalib Chambers, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, who was conferred with the prestigious “Award of Excellence in Research Practice ” by the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
Prof. Egbewole, who described the prestigious award as “well-deserved”, said he was not surprised, “considering Prof. Ali’s trajectory of excellence in legal practice, academic erudition and unmatchable community service”.
The Vice Chancellor said that Prof. Ali’s selection for the prestigious Award is a testament to his exceptional contributions to knowledge-based accomplishments, both nationally and globally, and especially his life-touching contributions to OAU as a distinguished alumnus.
Beyond OAU, Prof. Egbewole noted that Prof. Ali is a household name in several universities across the country where his outstanding impacts in the advancement of law and legal practices, as well as campus infrastructural facelifts and philanthropic outreaches to indigent students are very clear for all to see.
The Vice Chancellor specifically recounted Prof. Ali’s numerous interventions at the University of Ilorin where he has been a pro-bono adjunct lecturer in the Faculty of Law for decades.
“His life-touching interventions at the University of Ilorin also include the donation of several buildings including student hostels, and lecture halls for the use of our students, as well as other financial and material donations to some of our Faculties, Centres, and Units”, Prof. Egbewole said.
The Vice Chancellor expressed profound pride in Prof. Ali’s life-touching achievements and wished him greater successes in his life endeavours.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON, described the honouree as an outstanding and remarkable professional who has paid his due not only as a legal luminary but also as an academic.
Prof. Oloyede, who is a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, said that OAU made a very good choice in Prof. Ali with the conferment of the award.
He explained that the universities are not for the academics alone but should be a platform for all, particularly those who have something tangible to offer humanity.
Prof. Oloyede encouraged universities to continue to scout for worthy individuals like Prof. Ali for adequate celebration in order to stimulate the crave for excellence in others.
He added that the society should not wait for the accomplished to pass on before they are fetched out for celebration.
Prof. Oloyede thanked the management, staff and students of the University for finding Prof. Ali worthy of celebration, saying that since he knew him about 50 years ago he has never been disappointed.