By Abubakar Imam

The recent conferment of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on a Professor at the Department of Business Law, University of Ilorin, Mubarak Tijani Adekilekun,  by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) has been described as ‘‘meritorious and well-deserved’’.

This assertion was made penultimate Sunday (October 6, 2025) by an Ilorin-Based Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Adebayo Oba Adelodun, while speaking at a prayer/luncheon organised by the Kuliya of Ilorin and former Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of States-Owned Universities, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, at his Adewole Estate residence in Ilorin.

Mr Adelodun, who is a former Chairman of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said that from the trajectories of the career of Prof. Adekilekun, coupled with his professionalism and integrity, the law teacher really deserved the elevation.

The Chairman, who congratulated Prof. Adekilekun for attaining the peak of his careers as a law teacher and legal practitioner, urged him to maintain his characteristic exemplary dispositions for him to record more accomplishments in life.

In his lecture at the event, a former Deputy Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin, Dr Yusuf Kolawole Jimoh,  urged Prof. Adekilekun to always show gratitude for the divine favour he has been enjoying right from birth.

            While urging legal practitioners to pursue issues and projects that would enhance national development, the  cleric-don  encouraged the honouree to mentor others as he was mentored by illustrious elders of the profession.

Responding, the honouree thanked Prof. Ali and his law firm, Ghalib Chambers, for organising the event as he also thanked all those who honoured him with their presence.

            The event was attended by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab  Olasupo Egbewole, SAN; the Vice Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Folorunsho Oladimeji; the father of the honouree and Mufti of Ede in Osun State, Shaykh Abdulateef Tijani Adekilekun; the Director, Linguistics Immersion Centre, University of Ilorin, Prof. Badmas Olanrewaju Yusuf; the Director, Centre for Research, Development and In-House Training (CREDIT), Prof. Abdulkareem Oloyede; and the Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Ilorin, Prof. Taiwo Olaniyi.

Also in attendance were the President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji Abdulmumini Ayo Abdulmalik; a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly and ex-Nigerian Envoy to Mexico, Ambassador AbdulRafiu Adejare Bello; the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, who was represented by one of his wives, Mrs Aisha Lawal; and the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Mr Adekanmi Ojo; among several others from far and near.