Professor of Law Practice, Mallam Yusuf Ali SAN, has counselled that there is no substitute for quality education, adding that it is in the interest of the Nigerian government to pay maximum attention to the education sector.
Speaking on the sideline of the inauguration of a twin-lecture theatre in the Faculty of Law, named after him by the management of a private university, Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Oko-Irese, Kwara state, Ali, however, said that government alone cannot fund education.
The legal icon called on corporate organizations and individuals to also consider other interventions in the sector to help mould the country’s future leaders.
In his words, he said “There is no substitute for education and it’s easier to lead knowledgeable people than ignorant people. When people are ignorant there is no lie that is told that won’t work. But when people are educated, it is difficult for them to be cheated and it is also difficult for them to be led by the nose. So, it is in the interest of the government to ensure that they pay maximum attention to the issue of education, especially, the funding.
“But having said that, education has gone beyond government solely funding education. We need other interventions from corporate bodies, from other citizens and other people can intervene too. So it’s mixed grill”.
Ali expressed delight that the honour was done to him without any financial contribution from him to the project but in recognition of his disposition and contributions to the education development.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Professor Francisca Oladipo, said that the twin lecture theatre was named after the legal luminary to inspire the institution’s undergraduates, particularly, the Law students to attain greater heights, like him.
“Each time our students walk pass that road they see that name, they remember him, they want to be like him. It inspires them to want to think like him especially, the Law students. They want to attain what he has been able to attain. So, those are the two significant motives behind today’s event.
“And it also means sustainability. We constructed everything ourselves using the laterite blocks, the ones they called mud blocks, that was used by our fathers in those days. Everything was done not by contractors, even the metal works. For the roofing, we used wood from a very big tree that used to be there”, she said.
In his address, the founder of the university, Engineer Dr. Johnson Adewumi, also acknowledged that Prof. Ali’s dedication to education, justice, and the empowerment of young minds aligns with the vision and mission of establishing the university.
