If you call him a jinx breaker, you are not far from the
truth. The reason is that many students had tried to
graduate from the University of Ilorin with a first class
degree in Law for many years, but they failed for one
reason or the other. Finally, on Tuesday, however,
Abiodun Kazeem achieved the feat, drawing accolades
from many people.
Kazeem studied Common and Islamic Law at the
institution, which became a full fledged university in 1976.
Achieving this feat, according to him, is something he will
always cherish. But he never forgets to note that his
march through the system was a tough one.
For instance, he recalls that he did not get admission into
the university on a platter of gold. He sat for the Joint
Admissions Matriculation Board’s examination twice, in
the course of which some of his friends tried to convince
him to forget about applying again.
“The first time I sat for JAMB was in 2007,” Kazeem
says. “I did not get the cut-off point. But I was bent on
studying law. So, in 2008, I obtained the JAMB form and
sat for the examination the second time. I was successful
this time around.”
Between 2007 and 2008, he worked with one of his
uncles, Mr. Tahiru Adeosun, who has a law firm in Ilorin.
While the experience might have influenced his academic
strides on campus, from his first day in the institution, he
had his mind set on obtaining first class degree. Yet,
some of his colleagues tried again to discourage him.
They reminded him that no one had ever achieved that
feat in the institution as far as the faculty was concerned.
But he remained resolute.
He says, “From the day I entered the university, I wanted
to make a first class. I thought that my experience in my
uncle’s law firm could be used to optimise my ability. But
some of the challenges I had have to do with the issue
that nobody had made it. Some of my colleagues who
noted that I was so focused on my studies discouraged
me. Many of them said, ‘You can never have it. You do
not need to disturb yourself.’’’
Twenty-six-year-old Kazeem, who hails from Iganna in
Oyo State, says he is from a polygamous home. His
father, Muideen, has 12 children. His mother, Mulika,
gave birth to six of them. He states that settling for Law
in the higher institution was largely due to the influence of
his uncle.
Perhaps, he could have read Mass Communication and
not Law. According to him, his nickname in secondary
school was Mr. Mass Communication, due to his writing
skills and gift of oration.
He recounts his days at Community Grammar School,
Iganna. “I decided to read Law because my uncle, a
lawyer, inspired me. I wanted to study Mass
Communication. I was very eloquent and I was in the
Press Club in the secondary school. But when I got to my
uncle’s chamber, he influenced and inspired me to read
Law. I never dreamt of becoming a lawyer,” he says.
Beaming with excitement and a sense of accomplishment,
Kazeem adds that this feat is an honour for his generation
and his people in Oyo State.
For now, he is preparing for the Law School, after which
he will choose between three directions he has envisioned
for himself. He hopes to become a lecturer, to inspire
young people, practise Law or participate in politics,
either actively or passively.
Kazeem is one of the 41 graduands from various faculties
in the university who bagged first class degrees at the
ceremony, with 1,088 making second class upper;
2,435 had second class lower. In the third class degree
category are 1,082 students and 214 had ordinary Pass.
A further breakdown shows that a total of 5,063 of the
6,713 students that graduated obtained first degrees,
756 got Master’s degrees; 95 bagged Ph.Ds; while 84
got postgraduate diplomas.
Punchng.com
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