Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN (5th right) flanked by with 10 Vice Chancellors during the event
The founder of Ghalib Chambers, and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN said the dreams of his life during his tender age was either to become a motor boy, a bricklayer.
Professor Ali disclosed in his address at the presentation and celebration of the 2024 Excellence Award conferred on him by authority of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife on Tuesday (July 30, 2024) held at Oduduwa Hall of the institution.
Prof Ali, who came from a humble background, explained that he had earlier in his life, during his tender age, engaged in hawking of various items such as kerosene, dried fish, ‘agidi’ and many others.
“I must say that given the rural setting for where I grew up, you should not not be surprised that my ambition at that time of a professional life was to be a motor boy, a bricklayer or at best a teacher.
” I grew up with my Paternal Grandmother, from whom I picked so many abilities, including sales- manship, knowledge of cooking various Yoruba dishes, how to grind pepper on mother stone, fetching of water from brooks, fetching of fireworks to make fore for cooking and hawking of various goods like Eko or Agidi, kerosene, new clothes, fish etc.
As a matter of fact t, my hawking goy to a near fatal end, in July, 1966 when two much older guys , while I was hawking dried fish, hitP me from behind with their bicycle. I suffered a serious dislocation of my left foot. Traditional bone stters came to my rescue to reset my ankle to near normality” he added.
Professor who has risen through the ranks to reach the pick of his legal career, thanked God for what He has done in his life despite his humble background.
Ali, who is aqually a former Pro-Chancellor of the Osun State University for seve years, appreciated the management of his alma mater, OAU for finding him worthy of the 2024 Excellence Award, a feat he said he accepted wholeheartedly.
The event was attended by principal officers of several Universities across Nigeria, Government functionaries including the JAMB Registrar, Professor Is’haq Oloyede
