AFRICA | A brilliant Nigerian lady named Bukola Alada has emerged as the best-graduating student of the 2021 Nigerian Law School set, earning 16 prestigious awards for her outstanding academic performance.
Bukola’s higher studies began in 2014 when she enrolled at the University of Ibadan (UI) to study Law. She graduated in 2019 with an exceptional first-class degree, earning a 6.70/7.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)—one of the highest in the university’s history.
Her outstanding performance earned her the title of Best Graduating Student in UI’s Faculty of Law.
A year later, she proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, a mandatory professional training institution that qualifies law graduates to practice as solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
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At the Nigerian Law School, Bukola maintained her remarkable academic standard, outperforming over 5000 of her colleagues to become the best-graduating student of her set, clinching 16 notable awards for her excellence.
Bukola’s success did not come without challenges. Speaking in an interview with Punch NG, she revealed that Law School was one of the most intense experiences of her academic journey.
Her program, which typically lasts one year, was extended to 14 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The overwhelming volume of coursework, requiring mastery of numerous laws, cases, and legal principles, often led to exhaustion and self-doubt.
”At some point, I asked myself if I really needed a first class. If I managed to pass, at least, I’d be a lawyer. So, yes, there were low days and on those days, I allowed myself to wallow. But I soon picked myself up again and continued. I knew why I wanted a first class,” she said.
Bukola also admitted that she felt pressure to maintain her academic excellence after her first-class degree from UI. However, she stayed focused, choosing to compete with herself rather than be overwhelmed by external expectations.
During her undergraduate years at UI, Bukola was a recipient of two distinguished scholarships:Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF) Scholar (2018) – Selected as one of 40 scholars in Nigeria after a competitive application process.
Also the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) Scholar (2019) – Chosen through a rigorous shortlisting, examination, and interview process, emerging as one of only five scholars nationwide.
Looking ahead, Bukola is determined to excel in the legal profession and leave a lasting impact.
”My goal is to be the best legal practitioner I can be, recognised for excellence in my chosen niche. I am interested in commercial transactions; I want to be the go-to name in my area of specialisation. I want to solve complex legal issues in a creative manner,”she said.
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