He warned that in the highly competitive legal market that exists today, young lawyers need to be proactive, as they navigate their careers in a vastly changing environment. Ali implored the law students to build legal knowledge, expertise and experience to excel in the profession, acquire new skills, develop meaningful relationships, become technologically proficient, build reputation for excellence and strive for
excellence. 

On how to become a successful lawyer, Ali gave this hint: ‘It will not be out of place to reiterate once again that material acquisition should not be the immediate concern of a young lawyer, rather the building of a rock solid professional reputation should be the focus. Once you have that, success in all the facets of it will come through the door.’ 

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Bashiru Okesina, who was chairman of the occasion, acknowledged the various contributions of the Guest Lecturer to the University and acknowledged the support of the Kabiyesi and people of Ifetedo to the Campus.

The Guest Lecturer is the Principal and Founder of the Law Firm, Yusuf O. Ali & Co, Ghalib Chambers. Yusuf Ali SAN is a member of many professional bodies such as: Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association, American Bar Association, Commonwealth Lawyers Association; among others. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, (FCIArb) (UK), Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) (Nigeria), Member Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria (CITN), Fellow Society for Peace Studies and Practice (FSPSP) and Fellow Dispute Resolution Institute (FDRI).

He is listed in America’s Biographical Who is Who as well as Who is Who in Nigeria. An Associate Lecturer, at the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Ali has published many learned articles in learned journals in the field of litigation and Commercial Law among others.

He attained the highest professional honour at the Nigerian Bar in 1997, when he was conferred with the prestigious and honourable title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (S.A.N.).