Meet Adebowale Omolasoye, a first-class law graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University. In this exclusive interview, Adebowale recounts his remarkable journey in the university, shares his challenges and motivations that helped him scale through, and offers words of advice to his junior colleagues.
With: Lkite Ayomide
Enjoy!
Lk: Can we meet you?
Adebowale: I am Adebowale Omolasoye, a recent law graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University.
Lk: Wow!
We're thrilled to hear that you bagged first-class honors in law, which we believe is not an easy feat. How were you able to accomplish this?
Adebowale: It's not an easy feat but an achievable feat.
I was able to achieve this through the workings of the grace of God. I wasn't utterly determined to make a first-class from the onset. I mean, when I gained my admission into the Faculty of Law, AAUA, I saw it then as an unrealistic goal, and given that I was faced with quite some spine-breaking challenges—lack of textbooks, difficulty in paying my tuition fee at the right time, among others.
Nevertheless, I was always going to give it my best regardless of the unpalatable circumstances. I just wanted to be focused on my studies, work hard, maintain discipline, and embrace the outcome. The outcome of my first semester as an undergraduate changed my perception. It was an impressive one. That gave me the push I needed going forward. I said to myself, _"I can do this; I can make a first-class; God is helping."_
In a nutshell, hard work, discipline, resilience, and the grace of God were the key.
Lk: Quite interesting!
Like you, many students are not always determined to make a first class in their first year as an undergraduate, so, apart from the outcome of your 100-level results, what other factors motivated you in your journey?
Adebowale: My circumstances. The hardship with which I started my LL.B. career motivated me a lot. They say tough times make tough souls. Amid the difficulty, I had the hope that I was going to succeed in the end. So, I motivated myself first while also giving myself to the promising words of God.
More so, I had the spirit to read about and study the excellence of persons and be motivated by it. One of such persons was Mr Olalere Yusuf Asamu. I met him during my academic journey as an undergraduate, and yes, he further motivated me through his stellar academic strides. I always made his academic excellence a mental picture every day. It drove me.
It's all about finding the right gear to steer your mind and passion.
Lk: Hmm, “the right gear to steer your mind".
Can you tell us a bit of your experience in school; did you only focus on academics?
Adebowale: It wasn't just about academics for me. I was actively involved in a lot of extracurricular activities in school. I was a very active member of my public chamber (Kayode Eso Public Chamber)right from my first year when Mr Taiwo Balogun (Barlowh) was the Head of the Chamber. As a result of my commitment and industry, I served in several leadership capacities in the chamber. I was a one-time Head of Research and a one-time Attorney-General of the chamber. I participated and represented the chamber in several moot and mock competitions.
I was also the second General Secretary of the Intellectual Property Law Club and the Head of the Trademark Group of the Club, where I spearheaded the teaching of members of the group and organized intellectual presentations.
I joined Equity Private Chamber, a foremost private chamber in the Faculty, at the 300 level. There, I served as the pioneer Senior Partner of the Property and Conveyancing Law Department and later as the Managing Partner of the Practice Department of the Chamber. I was able to effectively run the management of the practice department of the chamber even in my final year where I organized the "Clash of Partners Competition" and also initiated together with my Partner, the publication of a legal compendium—THE GLANCE.
In short, I didn't restrict my acquisition of knowledge and values to the four walls of the classroom. I was a versatile student, and I was able to balance all commitments with academics.
Lk: When you were in the 400 level, you shared in one of your articles published by Legal Kekenke, titled “The Simplified Ways of Answering Law Questions”. Now, as a graduate who has written all undergraduate examinations, do you still recommend those simplified ways of answering law questions?
Adebowale: Yes. I still greatly recommend them. As undergraduates, you have to understand the philosophy of answering law questions. Your long hours of study alone will not suffice if you do not know how to apply or write down all that you've studied in a way that is expected of you. It's as important as that. Kindly master them!
Lk: What advice would you give to your junior colleagues who are still in the race?
Adebowale: Keep doing your thing as best as you can. What matters is that you are giving it your best. Your effort is important in achieving success. Work hard, keep pushing, stay humble, cultivate proper time management, believe in yourself, and be close to God.
Do not allow any circumstance to set a blockade to the realization of your dream. Dream big and work towards it. With God on your side, you will win the race colorfully.
Lk: Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful experience, we hope to see you always at the top.
Adebowale: Happy to share. Thank you, wish you the best.
Lk... Making a statement
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