…as Prof. Yusuf Alli, Law Faculty Ag. Dean, Dr. Kehinde charge colleagues on ethical standards, integrity and moral conduct as law lecturers
By Wole Balogun
S A Media to VC
Amiable Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, has assured that the University is committed to producing jurists of federal and global influence who would make the University proud anywhere in the world. This was just as renowned Nigerian legal icon, Prof. Yusuf Alli (SAN), and Acting Dean of the Faculty, Dr. (Mrs.) Adeola Olufunke Kehinde, urged their colleagues in the Faculty to ensure they produce lawyers with integrity and utmost respect for ethical practices and integrity.
Representative of the VC, Prof. Afolabi Babatunde, Prof. Yusuf Alli and Dr. Adeola kehinde , Dean of Law Faculty
Prof. Fasina, Prof. Alli and Dr. Kehinde gave the remarks during the second annual retreat of the Faculty, sponsored and hosted by Professor Ali, SAN, OFR, a Professor of Practice in Law with FUOYE.
The retreat was well attended by Faculty members, management team of the University and other stakeholders. It held at the Micom Golf Hotel and Resorts, in Ada area of Osun State, from December 1 to December 4, 2025 .
Members of Law Faculty, with the Dean, Dr. Kehinde and resource persons
A 30 minutes welcome address by Prof. Yusuf Ali, (SAN), set a proper tone for the retreat while erudite scholars who were resource persons for the programme gave insightful lectures that broadened the academic horizon of the participants from the Law Faculty, FUOYE.
In his insightful speech which was titled, “Reflections on Legal Education at FUOYE”, Prof. Alli harped on the need for Law Lecturers to not only arm themselves with sound knowledge of their courses, but also be able to reflect deeply so as to be capable of imparting knowledge effectively to students. He cited several authorities including Thomas Paine, Confucius, Aristotle, Albert Einstein, and Nelson Mandela to buttress his assertions on the concepts of education and how best it should be given. His words: “In summary, it is apparent from the above that he, who wants to impart knowledge, must possess the quality of being reflective.
We, as law lecturers, stand at the confluence of knowledge dissipation. I say this because from the jurisprudential point of view, law is a science, social science and arts combined. It is my submission that to be able to play the roles expected of us properly, we must take to heart the purpose of education.”
Prof. Alli listed tools for law lecturers to become successful as, deep knowledge of areas of specialty and much more; aiding the search for knowledge with Al; and being flexible in teaching approach. He added that: “The days of rigidity and unbending insistence on only one way of knowledge acquisition are gone forever. We must at all times be willing to bow to superior arguments, even from our students.”
He urged his colleagues at the Law Faculty to maintain high moral grounds, saying: “The law lecturer of today has to have sound moral grounding in order not to undermine his or her authority with the students. A lecturer that asks the students to contribute money for handouts and, in extreme cases, to contribute money for him to meet his personal needs has destroyed all scintilla of respect from the students. “
Transparency and honesty is another tool Prof. Alli urged his colleagues to imbibe and also the need to shun corruption and maintain strict academic culture. He frowned at practices such as extorting students and linking exam questions to them, describing such practices as unwholesome and harmful to the system.The renowned legal icon, equally harped on collaboration and synergy in research and publications, coupled with a deliberate embrace of information Technology skills for optimal performance as teachers and researches.
Prof. Fasina, FUOYE VC
While appreciating Prof. Alli for sponsoring the retreat as part of his laudable contribution towards developing legal education in FUOYE, Dr. Kehinde urged her colleagues to put in their best in ensuring that quality legal education was given to the students.
She said: “We are here today because we recognize that teaching law is not just a job; it is a solemn commitment. This gathering, away from our lecture halls, is a vital workshop for self-improvement and faculty renewal. We are stepping back to sharpen our tools and update our blueprint for building the next generation of Nigerian legal minds.
The single goal of this retreat is simple: To ensure that every graduate who leaves FUOYE is not just knowledgeable, but instantly valuable—a lawyer of competence and character.
”Let me begin by expressing our deepest, most profound gratitude to the man whose foresight and immense generosity made this retreat possible: Professor Yusuf Ali, SAN, OFR.
Sir, your support is far more than a donation. It is a powerful affirmation that the quality of our nation’s justice system depends directly on the quality of its legal educators. You have provided us with the time, the space, and the resources to reflect and strategize—the most valuable gift a scholar can receive. Your commitment is an investment in the future stability and integrity of the Nigerian Bar, and we promise to honor it with tangible, lasting results.
“Colleagues, we face a reality: The legal world is changing faster than our textbooks. Our mission, as faculty members, should be to close the gap between the classroom and the courtroom. Also, we must produce lawyers with integrity. A brilliant lawyer without ethics is a danger to society. Our faculty must be known nationwide as a faculty that prioritizes moral integrity.”
While also appreciating Prof. Alli, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Fasina, who was represented by Prof. Afolabi Babatunde, current chairman, Committee of Deans, said: “It is with great honor and profound joy that I stand before you today on the occasion of the Second Annual Faculty of Law Retreat, a program graciously and consistently sponsored by Ghalib Chambers, Nigeria, under the amiable and visionary leadership of Prof. Yusuf O. Ali, SAN. On behalf of the Senate, Management, Staff, and Students of this University, I extend our deep appreciation.
“We thank you, Prof. Alli SAN, for your unwavering commitment to strengthening the faculty and for sponsoring this retreat annually. Your dedication to academic excellence, professional development, and institutional growth continues to illuminate the path we walk as a young but ambitious Law Faculty.
“The Federal University of Oye-Ekiti is proud to be associated with you, not only as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and distinguished legal scholar, but as a pillar of support whose contributions stand boldly and unforgettably in our history. Your investment in this retreat is an investment in the future of legal education and jurisprudence in Nigeria. We say thank you (today and always).
“Distinguished colleagues and audience, as we gather to reflect, evaluate, and set new directions, I am pleased to reassure you all that the University remains fully committed to securing complete approval and accreditation from the Council of Legal Education (CLE). In line with regulatory expectations, the University has gone far in addressing facility and infrastructural requirements for the faculty. We are resolute to demands of the faculty always; hence, construction of additional lecturers’ offices with furniture together with both staff and students’ common rooms — all en-suite. The effect is to improve learning and working conditions within the faculty as well as advancing facility upgrades to meet and surpass CLE benchmarks.
“It is consequential to emphasize that We are building a Faculty of Law not only capable of passing accreditation, but one capable of producing jurists of Federal and global influence. The management’s interventions were designed deliberately — not only to fulfill accreditation requirements but more importantly to ensure that both staff and students have the comfort, dignity, and environment necessary to flourish. Thus, the Ghalib Chamber’s support in the course can never be overemphasized; thank you Ghalib Chamber.
“To our dear participants and scholars here present, I wish you a fruitful, stimulating, and productive retreat. May the conversations today refine our thinking, deepen our scholarship, and inspire the innovations that will define the FUOYE Faculty of Law in the years ahead. On the final note, to Prof. Yusuf O. Alli SAN, and all partners and colleagues from Ghalib Chambers, Ilorin, Nigeria we celebrate you. Your generosity, mentorship, and professional contribution remain a beacon to all legal minds in training. May your reward multiply, and may your practice continue to expand in excellence, strength and honor. Amen, ” the VC said.
After the opening remarks, the retreat progressed into a knowledge sharing session that began with two insightful lectures by
Prof Musa Aibinu, the Vice-Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Kwara State. The lectures titled, “Maintaining Academic Integrity in the days of Artificial Intelligence” opened the eyes of the participants to an impactful use of Al for research purposes, as well as leveraging on online materials for researches in Law. The Keynote speaker, Prof. Musibau Akanji, Former, Vice-Chancellor, AL Hikmah University and Federal University of Technology, Minna, gave useful insights on administering modern facilities in the University, with the topic, “Overview of University Administration and Running of Modern Faculties.”
Prof. Bashiru Adeniyi Omipidan FIMHL
Dean, Faculty of Law, Unilorin, also offered highly insightful tips on fostering academic collaboration with global institutions with his lecture themed, “International academic collaboration in the days of university ranking “.
To enlighten the scholars in the Faculty on honor win grants with impactful research endeavours, Prof. Cecelia Akintayo , FUOYE ‘s Dean Faculty of Physical Sciences, gave an engaging lecture titled, “Modern trends and the Modules for winning international grants for research”.
Prof. Nimah Dupe Abdulraheem, harped on the advantages of muilti-disciplinary researches, with her lectures themed,” Multidisciplinary research as the panacea for knowledge sharing”.
Prof. Laide Agodinrin’s healthy tips were dishes out generously in his lecture, entitled: “Your general health, well-being and cancer”. The knowledged sharing session ended with Prof. Emmanuel Adeyefa’s insightful lecture on “Academic culture and advancement in academic career” . A scintillating wrap up session followed with photography and sumptuous lunch sessions to conclude the refreshing retreat at about 3:30 pm on December 4, 2025.
