All Hail Pioneer Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin, Prof Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN

By Ayantunde Ayangbayi, JP

Prof Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN is a frontline Minister in the Temple of Justice with outstanding brilliance. Call him an exceptional positive thinker, your guess is as good as mine on account of his excellence in law practice. Here is a prominent member of the Ilorin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Ali, a fine gentleman of honour, who is diligent in his work, is a man of destiny propelled into fame by sequence of unpredictable events with an impact so profound that can be rightly considered providential. Without being immodest, the legal giant is a towering figure among his peer Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in the country.

He is reputed to be a stickler for due process and laid down procedures, and has dedicated his time, energy and resources in standing on the side of those who are being unjustly victimized. Ali’s selfless service might have accounted for why the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Maimartaba, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, settled for him as Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate.

In fact, Dr Sulu-Gambari, at the conferment ceremony, referenced the time past during which the new traditional title holder chose to fight for the Emirate, saying that “The title is a product of hard work for him. He stood with the Emirate when it was tough”.

A native of Osun State and born to Alhaji Bisiriyu Olayiwola Ali, of Ilare Quarters Ifetedo in Ife South Local Council of Osun State, this home boy fought poverty to a stand still through determination, intelligence, perseverance, fear of God, discipline and being focused. Above all, he holds tenaciously into his professional calling without compromise, and he has made a roaring success of the law profession by devoting a magnificent building to it in Ilorin. It is named Ghalib Chambers, the Headquarters of all law firms owned by Ali in the country.

In carriage and comportment, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN has remained very humble, approachable, hard working, prayerful, cheerful giver and Omoluabi personified with big ideas, indeed.

Except for the ‘Doubting Thomas’, one is convinced beyond any reasonable doubt (s) that the first Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN is an outstanding achiever, highly and cerebrally endowed. He is a motivator, distinguished legal giant and a blessing to our generation.

This journalist is poised to write this piece as a mark of honour to Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, a good man to the generality of the people, who has been receiving reciprocal benevolence from the society. This covetous traditional title of 1st Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate is well thought out, fitting, glamorous and worthwhile to a global citizen regarded by many as a pleasant character, and so loved as one simple creature in the hands of the Almighty Allah.

On Friday, 11th April, 2025, the magnificent Palace of the Emir of Ilorin was a beehive of activities for the turbaning of the first Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate. People from all walks of life thronged the palace to be part of the history. The people gathered at the historic city of Ilorin to give honour to whom honour is due.

It was a celebration of absolute love, patriotism, loyalty, commitment to the revered first Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate. The Kuliya Ngeri remains an evergreen ambassador of the Ilorin Emirate and its people with his significant positive contributions to the traditional, socio-economic and stable political life of the Emirate.

No doubt, the effort that went into the preparation, beautifying the Emir’s palace and team work for the epoch making ceremony is never a worthless adventure. The ceremony was very colourful, memorable, successful and attracted a number of dignitaries from across the country including Nigeria’s Vice President, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON; Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State and many others from a far.

The downtrodden showed up in solidarity. Throughout the period that the turbaning lasted, the Emirate remained peaceful and colourful with the cream de la cream of the ancient Ilorin Emirate registering their presence in their traditional regalia in honour of the pioneer Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate.

The new and first Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate’s journey into greatness has just started with the turbaning ceremony. The legal luminary should step up his contributions to the legal profession, community, religion and humanity.

His installation with the prestigious title, no doubt, is in appreciation of his immeasurable contributions to society and a call to duty to do more, as a foremost legal scholar, positive thinker and expounder of jurisprudence, who lives an amazing lifestyle.

This journalist, like many others, believes Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, has won the confidence of many people and he remains a peace builder, community leader and an asset in nation building. I wish him, like many of his admirers, continued good health, successes, wisdom, better understanding, God speed, longer life, more happy days with sound mind coated with God’s love always.

With the colourful turbaning ceremony, respected and highly literate Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness, Maimartaba, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, stands tall among Royal Majesties. He is a traditional ruler of historical reference now, always and constant Northern star.

Ayangbayi, JP is a Journalist/Media Consultant based in Ilorin, Kwara State.