The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has rejoiced with Ilorin-based prominent legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali, on his recent appointment as a Professor of Law Practice by the authorities of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, describing it as "well deserved".

Prof. Egbewole, in a statement signed by the University's Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, said that the distinguished jurist eminently deserves the honour in view of his vast erudition and enormous contributions to the building and expansion of knowledge in the field of legal education.

He described Mallam Ali as not just a longstanding friend of the University of Ilorin but also a great mentor and close ally of about five decades from whom he and many others have learnt so many things over the years.

Prof. Egbewole explained that Mallam Ali's expertise in legal practice and contributions to the progress of the nation's legal profession in the last four decades are legendary and exceptional and needed to be tapped.

The Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, who is also the Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), said that the appointment of Mallam Ali would greatly boost service delivery at FUOYE's Law Faculty and enable the young institution to produce sound lawyers.

Prof. Egbewole noted that the appointment would not only be beneficial to the students of the University's Faculty of Law but also be of tremendous benefit to other teachers at the Faculty and the University at large as they would all have the privilege of regular interactions with a great legal mind on past and contemporary development in legal practice and similar fields at local and international levels.

He recalled that the former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Osun State University, Osogbo, has not only trained scores of lawyers in his chambers and some local and foreign universities but has also written several important books on one aspect of law or the other over the years.

The Vice Chancellor commended the authorities of FUOYE for appointing Mallam Ali, adding that it was high time that the nation's universities went outside their shores to pull out eminent and resourceful professionals with such fascinating intellect and characteristics for appointment into their faculties to enhance knowledge transmission and general academic development as well as attendant deepening of professionalism.