A senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and legal scholar, Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali, has challenged professionals and public leaders to make mentorship a central part of their legacies, stressing that true impact lies on level of human capital development rather than titles or wealth acquired.

Ali spoke recently in Ilorin at the public presentation of a new book written in his honour. Titled, Kuliya of Ilorin: A Life of Purpose, he described the publication as a call to deeper service to God and humanity rather than a celebration of personal achievements.

He said, “We are all beneficiaries of other people’s mentorship. Wherever you find yourself, endeavour to lift someone else. Mentorship is not about how rich you are or the position you occupy; it is about the impact you make on others.”

The event, held at the auditorium of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, attracted a large turnout of legal luminaries, academics, traditional rulers and public officials, reflecting Ali’s wide influence across professional, academic and traditional institutions.

In his review of the 187-page book, Mahmud Abdulraheem noted that the book, authored by Abiodun Abdulkareem, is divided into two parts across 11 sub-headings, chronicling Ali’s personal journey, professional milestones and values, with particular emphasis on discipline, faith, integrity and service.

He said the book also examines his unique position as both a foremost legal practitioner and the Kuliya of Ilorin, highlighting how he has balanced modern legal excellence with traditional responsibility.

Speakers at the launch repeatedly echoed Ali’s consistency and his emphasis on mentoring young people, a theme he reinforced in his remarks. The Keynote Speaker, Prof Saudat Abdulsaki, noted that societies decline when experienced professionals fail to deliberately groom the next generation.

She urged older professionals to see mentorship as a duty rather than an option, stressing that such a step will improve graduate readiness for internship and job placement.

As part of the programme, organisers unveiled a National Youth Mentorship Summit, an initiative designed to equip young Nigerians with leadership skills and ethical values. The project was described as a practical extension of Ali’s lifelong commitment to developing people and building institutions.

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), who was represented by the chairman of the occasion, Prof Muhtar Etudaiye, commended Ali’s sustained investment in education, philanthropy and human capital development, describing him as a rare example of consistency, humility and selfless service.

Also, the Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Prof Lateef Oladimeji, lauded Ali’s influence on generations of students and young professionals, noting that many beneficiaries of his mentorship trace their personal and professional growth to encounters with him dating back to their secondary school days.

Explaining the motivation behind the book, Abdulkareem said it was inspired by the urgent need for credible role models in contemporary society.

According to him, Ali’s life offers young Nigerians a practical template for combining professional excellence with moral discipline. The large turnout at the event, various speakers noted, underscored Ali’s reputation not merely as a successful lawyer but equally as a builder of people, whose influence resonates across generations.