Twenty-three-year-old Nigerian barrister, Oluwadunni Priscilla Oni, has continued to receive accolades for graduating from the Law School in the capital city of Yola, Adamawa State, with a First Class Honors late last year. In this chat with SAMPSON UNAMKA, she canvasses  more opportunities for women as she recounts her journey to success.

Young Nigerian barrister, Oluwadunni Priscilla Oni, has continued to receive awards for graduating from the Nigerian Law School in Yola, Adamawa State, with a First Class Honors. For the feat, she was awarded six prizes by the institution, including prizes for ‘The Best Female Graduating Student’ and the ‘Second  Overall Best Graduating Student’.

She was recently honoured with a lifetime achievement award by the Evangelical Christain Union (ECU) Alumni Fellowship for her outstanding performance in Law School.

The fourth of five children, Oluwadunni is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and Lagos Court of Arbitration Young Arbitrators Network. She recounts  her successful journey:

My studying law

My  father had a huge influence on my choice of course, because I was in art class and was thinking of studying international relations.

I was still indecisive, so he spoke to me and then I realised that there were a lot of career opportunities in that field. And because I like to analyse things and think things through, critically, I felt that I could find my feet if I studied law.

And again because of how wide it is, I felt like I would be more open to other career opportunities, like journalism or international relations. So my dad guided me into studying it and I also realised it highlighted my strength.

However, even though creative writing wasn’t something I thought of pursuing professionally, it impacted me as a lawyer. I had always enjoyed writing from when I was a kid; I remember in primary five, I wrote a short story.

But it was usually on and off. Importantly, it’s an outlet for me. During law school when I was tired of reading, I would just pick up my notepad and write a poem on how I feel or on things that I have experienced.

My parent’s influence on my grade

People say it’s a man’s world, but if you look at academic achievements, you’d realise most times its women that top the class. Even in law school, over the past couple of years, the best graduating students have mostly been females. But when you move to the corporate world, it’s a man’s world.

The reason women do well academically, from what I experienced in law school, is that we are much calmer. Men are usually proud and over-confident, but women have humility and willingness to learn, so this helps but what we are aiming for is for this to also be the case in the corporate world.

More opportunities should be open to women regardless of their gender; people should see their ability, capability and give them the opportunity to prove themselves.

My feat, a challenge to girls, women

I think what I have achieved sends a message to girls and women that you can aim higher regardless of your gender.

There is no impossibility as long as you put your mind to it; your gender does not determine your chances of success. Once I start working I will push harder: the same determination that I used to excel academically is what I’d use to excel in my career.

I remember in law school in Yola campus, the men were actually more outspoken, over-confident, even when they were wrong, they were usually quite loud. And for some reasons the female students did not like volunteering much. But I never felt intimidated by them, I knew I had what it takes to excel even when I didn’t feel like coming out to speak.

You are not in competition with men, there is space for everyone to excel so just do your own thing and work hard. There will be rough patches, there will be time when it will be overwhelming but don’t give up and keep your eyes on the prize.

Read Also: Recall Nigerian Law School student

Through hard work and determination, you can be anything that you desire. Believe in yourself and God, I had so much faith in God that I would have a first class, I knew God has blessed me with intelligence and ability to understand things easily, so I believed in Him to excel and in myself.

My university experience

Interestingly, initially, I finished with a 2-1 from Obafemi Awolowo University. But I read a lot. I felt I would have finished with first class but for 200 level where I struggled because I was trying to find my feet.

But in 300 level I caught up in my studies and was determined to make better grades. And along with academic excellence, I was also involved in several extracurricular activities, especially in 300 level when a friend spoke to me that my Curriculum Vitae should include some other extracurricular activities.

So I joined the chambers which took my time, eventually in 400 level, I became an executive. My typical day was usually classes then chamber meetings or society meetings, then church.

I also made sure I attended any event I heard holding at the Amphitheatre or events that had to do with law or interested me.

My feeling about winning the prizes

I feel very elated and very honoured, I honestly did not feel like I deserved it because I know people who worked harder, but I also know the amount of effort I put in and I know how much I prayed for it. So I feel very blessed to have won those prizes.

It is a very honorable move to have been honoured by the Evangelical Christain Union (ECU) Alumni Fellowship because many organisations do not recognise or award excellence.

I am mainly grateful that ECU has taken the initiative to honour me. It is an incentive: people are demotivated to work hard because they know nobody is going to reward them for it.

But once individuals and organisations start to honour people, give scholarship, donations, they are incentives that will send the right message to people who are hardworking and dedicated to duty.