Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Prof. Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi, (SAN) has emerged as Teacher at the June 2022 edition of Raise Life Class, a non governmental organisation promoting youths development and mentorship life class in Kwara state.

Raise is a monthly mentorship programme geared towards the development of young people in career, leadership and entrepreneurship.

The youths development and mentorship life class, Raise, has previously held four sessions with prominent male and female personalities from January to May, including the First Lady of Kwara State, former commissioner for Information, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin and Kwara First Lady, Dr. Olufolake AbdulRazaq.

However, a statement issued in Ilorin on Thursday signed by the Convener of the group, Mr. Ibraheem Abdullateef stated that, “It is an initiative created to deepen social cohesion and build a network of quality new generation leaders in the public and private sectors in Kwara State”.

Abdullateef said that, already, all necessary arrangements had been made to feature the KWASU VC for the life class.

He described Prof. Muhammed Akanbi as a celebrated academic, law teacher and legal icon who has achieved so many feats at his young age, and is very passionate about academic excellence and community development.

Prof. Akanbi is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He is also a Notary Public. He joined the services of the University of Ilorin in 1998 as Lecturer II and was appointed Professor of Law in the Department of Business Law in 2012.

An alumnus of the prestigious Kings College, University of London, United Kingdom, Prof. Akanbi served as legal assistant in the legal unit of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos State during his national service year.

He boasts of over twenty years' experience as an academic in the University of Ilorin, during which he also held several administrative positions.

Prof. Akanbi has over 60 national and international publications in reputable peer-review journals with a bias in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Arbitration Law. His other research areas include conflict resolution laws, corporate management law and practice.

The don was a Member of the Technical Working Committee (TWG) (2013), on 'An Independent Review of Evidence of Gross violation of the Rights to Participation in Government and Fair Trial through the Election Petition Process in Nigeria 2003 – 2011' commissioned by National Human Right Commission, Abuja, OSIWA and the Ford Foundation.

He was also a Consultant/Member of the Technical Working Committee (TWG) (2012), on a research on the Legal framework on Citizenship and Religion as it affects National Integration in Nigeria' commissioned by International Development Law Organization (IDLO) Rome, Italy. He also served as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch between 2007 and 2009.

According to the convener, “In view of the stunning profile of Prof. Akanbi and his glistering accomplishments as an academic, lawyer and university administrator, “we are very much convinced that young men and women will learn tremendously from his wealth of experience and knowledge, helping in grooming better and more responsible young people in our society.”

Abdullateef who is also the Executive Director of Torchbearers Impact Network (TIN) concluded that there is no estimating the ripple effects of the bridge he and his team are building between generations in the next few years with Raise.