•24-year-old best graduating student shares her success secrets
From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
•Aminat and her parents, Dr Sikiriu Tae Lawal and Mrs Oluyemisi Lawal
Twenty-four-year-old Aminat Odunayo Lawal, is the overall best graduating student, Nigerian Law School 2023 exams. She also graduated with First Class at the University of Ibadan (UI).
She spoke with Daily Sun. Excepts:
How did you achieve your academic feats?
Getting awarded as the best graduating student in the Nigerian Law School was not a goal I specifically worked towards. My primary goal was to make a First Class and I was very focused on doing that. I made sure to read every day as well as focus on class tasks, which helped me to learn how to answer questions.
In addition, I surrounded myself with people with similar goals, which was good at keeping me on my toes. I also attribute a lot of it to God who gave me the strength I needed when I felt anxious.
How many awards did you bag at the Law School?
I won 12 awards. They are: Sir Adetokunbo Ademola prize for the best student; Dr Taslim Elias prize for the best student; Justice Atanda Fatai-Williams prize for the best student; Justice Sylvanus Ajurah prize for the best graduating student of the year; Director General’s prize for first class graduates; Chief Richard Akinje’s prize for the second best student in civil litigation and Bonime Jackson Lott Foundation prize for the Best female student of the year.
Others are National Association of Women Judges prize for the Best Overall Female Student of the year; NLS Class or 1980 prize for the Best Overall Student of the year; Justice Aloma Mukhtar prize for the Best Female student in civil litigation; Nigerian Bar Association prize for the Best Overall Female Student and the Council star prize.
Don’t you see yourself as a bookworm?
I would not say I am but I like to do things excellently, which includes my academics. So may be I am
Which one was easier, university or Law School?
I would say the university was easier only because it was for a longer period. A student has five years to build up their cumulated grade point average and understand the system.
Law school is a different ballgame. We are given nine months with a lot of coursework and externship in between. The system doesn’t operate a cumulated grade point average. We write the exams, it’s one week and that’s it.
Did your family influence you to study Law?
Not at all, they did not. It was a decision I made on my own and one I don’t regret.
Did you have time for social life on campus and at Law School?
I did. Law School Lagos campus is located in Victoria Island and there are a lot of activities around and places to go. I went with a couple of friends to the beach and a few restaurants. It was good to decompress and forget about the workload in Law School.
What strategy do you adopt in preparing for exams?
In Law School, I read everyday and paid attention in class. I also made a timetable during my externship that I followed strictly. As it got closer to exams, I started practising past questions with a study group to learn how to answer questions, as that is really important in Law School. I also made sure I learnt my principles before beginning to memorise my sections and cases. I think Law School is a personal experience and it’s important to find a reading method that works for you.
You did well at UI and Law School, how about your primary and secondary education?
I also did well in primary and secondary schools. I was the top of my class for majority of my primary education and was the 2nd best graduating student in my class in secondary school.
At UI, how did you cope with strikes by university workers?
It was a bit difficult dealing with strikes because it meant more time in school. Due to the strikes, I missed my Law School set and had to go a year after. It was difficult being farther behind than my mates in other private schools but I’m glad it’s over now. I hope something can be done about the strikes in federal universities.
Can you share with us any unforgettable experience at UI or Law School?
I think any student in Law School will never forget the first time the mic got to them and they had to speak in front of almost a thousand people.
After Law School, what is next?
I started work the week after my call to bar. I’m looking forward to learning and growing in the job. I’m also looking forward to furthering my education and completing my postgraduate programme.
Who is Aminat Odunayo Lawal?
I am a native of Ado-Ekiti, Ado Local Government, Ekiti State. I am the last born of the family. My father, Dr Sikiru Tae Lawal, was an education officer in the old Ondo State and later Ekiti State. My mother, Mrs. Oluyemisi Lawal, was also an education officer.
Both of them rose to the position of director before retirement. My father retired voluntarily in 2006 and was elected Deputy Governor, Ekiti State, in 2007. I graduated with a First Class in Law from the University of Ibadan. I recently completed Law School at the Lagos campus and graduated as the overall best graduating student in a class of 5,300 and won 12 awards.