Yusuf Ali tasks govt on education

Professor of Law Practice, Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), has counselled stakeholders that there is no substitute for education, urging governments to pay maximum attention to the sector.

The senior lawyer, however, said that government alone cannot fund the sector, calling on corporate bodies, individuals, and citizens to consider interventions to help mould the country’s future leaders.

The immediate past Chairman of the Governing Council, Osun State University, spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration of a twin lecture theatre in the Faculty of Law, named after him by the management of Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Oko-Irese, in Irepodun Local Government of Kwara State.

Ali expressed delight that the honour was bestowed on him, not for financial contributions but in recognition of his disposition and contributions to education.

He said, “There is no substitute for education, and it’s easier to lead knowledgeable people than ignorant ones. When people are ignorant, any lie can be propagated and accepted, but when people are educated, it’s difficult to deceive or manipulate them.

“It’s in the interest of the government to ensure maximum attention is paid to education, especially its funding.

“Education has gone beyond government funding. We need interventions from corporate bodies and individuals. Others too can contribute. So it’s a mixed grill.”

Vice-Chancellor (VC) of TAU, Prof. Francisca O. Oladipo, said the twin lecture theatres were named after the legal luminary to inspire the institution’s undergraduates, particularly the law students, to strive for greater heights.

“Each time our students walk past that road and see that name, they remember him. It inspires them to think like him, especially the law students. They want to attain what he has achieved. These are the significant motives behind today’s events,” she said.

“It also symbolizes sustainability. We constructed everything ourselves using laterite blocks, the same type our forefathers used. Everything was done without a contractor. Even the metalwork for the roofing was done in-house. A very big tree was there, and the area used to be a waste dump. So it also means turning waste to wealth.”

In his address, the founder of the university, Engr. Dr. Johnson Adewumi, acknowledged Ali’s unwavering dedication to education, justice, and the empowerment of young minds, which aligns with the vision and mission of establishing the university.

“We are proud of the strides TAU has made in its quest for academic excellence, and today’s commissioning represents another significant chapter in that journey,” he said.