Secrets to my 1st Class, best Law School graduation & 7 awards — Ojo’s story

Who says hard work does not pay? This interview is with Ojo, Jeremiah Opeyemi. The First Class graduate of Law from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, bagged best graduating student award at the university’s Faculty of Law. He recently emerged the best graduate after hitting First Class at the bar final examination conducted by the Council […]

Who says hard work does not pay? This interview is with Ojo, Jeremiah Opeyemi. The First Class graduate of Law from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, bagged best graduating student award at the university’s Faculty of Law. He recently emerged the best graduate after hitting First Class at the bar final examination conducted by the Council of Legal Education at the Nigerian Law School (NLS), Abuja.

 

What was your recent story at the Law School?

On graduation from my LL. B programme at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, I clinched seven awards. The prizes are: Best overall – Faculty Prize (Final LL. B degree examination); Hon. Justice Olu Ayoola Prize (Best result in LL. B part II examination); Justice C. O. Madarikan Prize (Best overall result, Final LL. B degree examination); Hon. Justice Kayode Esho Annual Prize (Best overall result, Final LL. B degree examination); Chief Gani Fawehinmi Prize (Best overall result, Final LL. B degree examination); Hon. Justice Mohammed Bello Prize (Best overall result, Final LL. B degree (Hons) degree Examination), and Hon. Justice Jaiyeola Abayomi Olowofoyeku Prize (Best graduating student, Faculty of Law).

I then proceeded to the Nigerian Law School Abuja. Due to my incessant contribution to knowledge at the Nigerian Law School Abuja, I was given an award of outstanding academic excellence by the Student Representative Council of the Nigerian Law School Abuja.

Not only that, I also finished with a First class at the bar final examination conducted by the Council of Legal Education at the Nigerian Law School Abuja. During the call to bar ceremony, I was also given the Director General’s award for the first class students. This includes a certificate, a big book and some amounts of money. Again, I give all glory to the name of the Lord.

What is the motivation for these feats?

The story behind my motive to be a champion was due to the fact that I lost my mother on March 13, 2002. Then, I was in JSS 2. This in a way makes life a bit difficult for me. This eventually gave me a strong determination to ensure that I be the best anywhere I find myself so as make things easier for me since there is no god father anywhere. I must strive to be the best to get my portion in life.

What challenges did you face while studying?

Yes, I faced a financial challenge during my undergraduate studies and at the Nigerian Law School. During my undergraduate studies, I had to support my income given by my single parent (Pastor Ojo) with making of photocopies, engaging in printing work and also tutorials especially ICAN tutorials where I taught Business Law as a course. Thank God I had 100% success in the sense that all those people I taught during that period passed their examination. These extra works I engaged myself into were not easy to combine with my academic. However, I thank God that with a strong passion and a determined heart, I eventually emerged as a champion.

The Law School experience was another thing entirely, as I had to struggle to survive. The little given from home was not sufficient at all. I used to eat once in a day, even I may not even get that once, it was very difficult to survive. I however thank God for His faithfulness. I also emerged with a first class in that same hard, harsh and difficult moment.

What steps are you taking at present?

I just got a placement at Templars as a NYSC associate which happens to be one of the best Law Firms in Nigeria. I will be resuming on January. I hope to be an employer of Labour in the future.

How did you get funds to drive your study?

During my undergraduate, it was mostly from photocopy, printing, money sent by my parent and tutorials. These I spent on purchasing of textbooks, live an average life and save the remaining money which I also used for my Law School programme together with a scholarship I won from Reginald Aziza Foundation which paid my Law school fees of #295,000.

What are your success plans for the years ahead?

I plan to go for my master immediately after the NYSC programme at Cambridge University and thereafter proceed for my Ph.D programme by God’s grace and mercy.

What is your advice to the Nigerian youth?

My advice for the youth is that they should not allow the circumstances of life to dictate their fate. They should be focused, hardworking, have goals and work assiduously to achieve the goals. If they are consistently diligent in their business, they will stand before kings and not before mean men. Whatsoever their hands find to do, they should do it with all their might and it shall be well with them in Jesus name.