Prof. Yusuf Ali To Headline Gavel International Annual Lecture On National Security

Eminent legal scholar, Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN), will on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, lead an array of distinguished Nigerians to examine the nation’s growing security challenges at the Gavel International Annual Lecture and Awards in Lagos.

Themed “The Impact of National Security Policies on Vulnerable Populations: A Human Rights Perspective,” the event comes at a critical time when Nigeria faces renewed scrutiny from the United States over allegations of religious genocide targeting Christians. The dialogue aims to explore practical responses to these threats and chart a more human-rights–focused approach to national security.

The forum, billed for the OPTS Hall of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alausa, Ikeja, will feature legal luminaries, seasoned journalists, and retired military officers in deep conversations on the intersections between security, governance, and civil liberties.

The lecture will be chaired by the doyen of the Nigerian Bar, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), while other key speakers include Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo (SAN); Major General James Ataguba (rtd); and AIG Tunde Ogunsakin (rtd). Renowned agriculture journalist, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, will also highlight the crucial link between food security and national stability.

As part of the ceremony, Gavel International will honour a distinguished lineup of Nigerians for their exceptional contributions to national development across law, media, and business. Awardees include former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Dr. Attia Nasreddin, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, Dr. Oludare Bello, Mr. Richard Akinnola, and Mr. Lere Fashola.

Publisher of Gavel International, Mustapha Ogunsakin, said the lecture seeks to deepen civic participation in national security reform. “The constitutional mandate for safety and security is non-negotiable. Every Nigerian deserves freedom from fear—whether from kidnappings, forced displacement, or terror rooted in ethnic or political motives. This forum is designed to generate practical, actionable solutions,” he explained.

Since its debut in 2015—which featured the presentation of Ogunsakin’s book, For the Love of Their Nation: Lawyers as Agents of Change in Nigeria, launched by Prof. Osinbajo—Gavel International’s annual lecture has evolved into one of Nigeria’s most respected legal and human rights platforms. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it convened experts like Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), and Prof. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu to discuss the future of virtual courts, with Osinbajo again delivering the keynote.

Last year’s edition had Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), as keynote speaker, and Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN) as the lead lecturer, focusing on “The Judiciary as the Last Hope of the Common Man: Media and Legal Perspectives.”

This year’s gathering promises to enrich national conversations on security, human rights, and governance, as the country seeks enduring solutions to the crises threatening its unity and stability.