Nneka Ikediashi graduated as the best student from the Faculty of Law, Ambrose Alli University, for the 2022/2023 session. She finished with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.77 on a scale of 5, the highest CGPA recorded in over 40 years of the faculty’s history. In this interview by Awau Adegoke, she speaks about her academic journey, among other issues.
In your LinkedIn post, where you announced your First-Class feat, you stated that you were first admitted into Political Science before you switched to Law. Tell us why you switched to Law and how you did it.
I transferred to Law because it offers many opportunities and flexible career paths. Law’s versatility appealed to me.
The transfer process was challenging. I applied for a transfer through the departmental head of Political Science. From there my application went through a series of scrutiny at different levels — from the department to the faculty level, even to the office of the Vice Chancellor. Thankfully, there was no objection.
I owe that to God. I think my grades also played a little role in it. The final stage was the approval by the University Senate and, of course, clearance from the bursary.
Looking back, the process seems straightforward but was complex and demanding.
How would you describe the kind of education you had at Ambrose Alli University?
My educational experience at Ambrose Alli University was exceptional. Although I have not had the opportunity to compare it with other institutions, I can confidently attest that the Faculty of Law’s standards are remarkably high. The marking system is rigorous, and lecturers have high expectations from students to achieve good grades. The quality of education and teaching standards was impressive, thanks to my distinguished and highly cerebral lecturers who significantly impacted knowledge. Their expertise and dedication raised the bar for academic excellence, and I feel fortunate to have had the privilege of learning from them.
In your LinkedIn post, you stated that you were the overall best-graduating student in the Faculty of Law, with the highest CGPA recorded in over 40 years of the faculty’s establishment. How does this make you feel? What prize(s) did the faculty or university award you for these feats?
I feel grateful, truly grateful to God Almighty. Achieving the highest CGPA in over 40 years of the faculty’s establishment was not something I envisioned. So, every time I reflect on it, my gratitude deepens.
Regarding awards, my university has not held its convocation ceremony yet, so I will find out then.
What aspects or areas of law interest you more and why?
I am currently exploring various legal disciplines to discover my area of interest. While corporate law has caught my attention because of its connection with business, I am eager to gain a well-rounded understanding of some other areas. By doing so, I will be able to identify the field that aligns best with my interests.
What was the title of your final-year project and what were the major findings from it?
My final-year project was titled ‘Legal challenges in mergers and acquisitions: A study of corporate law in Nigeria’.
It aims to identify and analyse key legal challenges encountered during mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions in Nigeria, and several findings were revealed. Notably, I discovered overlapping and conflicting laws regulating M&A, which often create complexity and uncertainty.
Additionally, regulatory hurdles were identified as significant obstacles hindering smooth transactions. Other critical challenges included antitrust concerns and cross-border issues. The findings provided valuable insights into Nigeria’s M&A regulatory framework and highlighted areas for improvement.
By consolidating the key challenges into a single study, my research offers a comprehensive analysis for policymakers, legal practitioners, and corporate entities navigating Nigeria’s M&A landscape.
You said you were the Chief Judge of the AAU LAWSAN Jural Court for the 2022/2023 session. Tell us about your role as chief judge and the impact it had on your academics and life.
As the chief judge of the AAU LAWSAN Jural Court for the 2022/2023 session, I was tasked with the role of overseeing the judiciary. I had the privilege of presiding over a few moot competitions and an actual case within the student community. One of my notable achievements was drafting the court’s filing fees.
As someone always willing and enthusiastic about learning, the role had a significant impact on me. It helped me improve my analytical, critical thinking, time management, and leadership skills and also improved my knowledge of procedural laws.
Were you engaged in any society, association, or club activities while in school?
During my time in school, I participated in various extracurricular activities. I held memberships in several organisations, including the AAU Law Clinic, Intellectual Property Law Club, AAU Law Students Bar Association (LAWBAR), and the Catholic Law Students Association (CALSAN).
I was privileged to serve in leadership positions within these organisations. I served as the financial secretary of CALSAN and head of the Law Clinic Department of Theatre and Media Art. These roles helped me develop valuable teamwork, time management, and leadership skills.
Tell us about your graduate and virtual law internships. How did the internship training differ from theoretical classroom work?
I have had enriching experiences in my graduate and virtual law internships. These opportunities bridged the gap between theoretical classroom learning and practical application. Unlike classroom work, internships provided hands-on experience, allowing me to apply legal principles in real-world scenarios.
Through these internships, I broadened my knowledge of diverse and novel areas of law that were not fully explored in school. I gained invaluable industry insights and learned to navigate professional settings effectively.
What were the major challenges you faced in your university academic journey and how did you overcome them?
The major challenges I faced in my university academic journey were linked primarily to my transfer to the Faculty of Law. The transfer process was quite tedious and uncertain, and as a result, I was unable to attend classes in the semester I transferred, I still attended classes in political science because there was uncertainty about the transfer, and wearing a suit to class with law students while attending law classes would have been very embarrassing in the eventuality that the transfer did not go through.
I had to attend classes in Political Science and prepare for exams as well so that if I still had to take them, I would not perform poorly.
My transfer was eventually completed the week the tests began. Trying to catch up with a new course was quite a challenge, especially because I was not used to the pattern of reading, coupled with the fact that I had to take some 100-level courses. Worse of all, some basic things I was supposed to take note of while reading, like cases and sections, I left them out — but, thankfully, I was fortunate to have good senior colleagues who corrected me and set me on the right path before exams began.
Another prominent challenge I faced was cases of missing results due to my unique matriculation number. This caused many imbalances, especially with thoughts of having to prepare for carryovers. However, things slowly fell in the right places as my journey progressed.
A country is as good or bad as its legal system. As someone familiar with the Nigerian legal system, if you were to recommend three things that would strengthen the Nigerian legal system that would help make the country a better place than it currently is now, what would they be?
I would focus on the court system. Firstly, I would propose amending the Constitution to increase the number of Supreme Court justices. This would significantly reduce their workload, allowing for more efficient and thorough consideration of cases. The current backlog of cases at the Supreme Court is a major concern, and increasing the number of justices would help alleviate this issue.
Secondly, I would suggest adopting the efficient case resolution methods used in election cases and applying them to other types of cases. The swift resolution of election disputes demonstrates that our legal system can deliver timely justice when necessary. By replicating this approach, we can reduce delays and promote faster dispute resolution.
Lastly, I would advocate stricter adjournment policies, granting adjournments only in exceptional circumstances and imposing substantial costs on parties seeking unnecessary delays. This would discourage frivolous requests and promote a more efficient judicial process.
After law school, every fresh lawyer has a vision and dreams of what they want to do with their law training. What is the unique thing you want to do with your legal training and why?
With my legal training, I aim to become an exceptional lawyer, offering bespoke legal services to businesses, governments and individuals. I draw inspiration from role models such as Professor Gbolahan Elias, Mr Asue Ighodalo, Professor Koyin Ajayi, Mr Gbenga Oyebode, Mr Wolemi Esan, Destiny Ogedegbe (Mr Possible) and the like.
So, yes, I intend to be an exceptional lawyer.
What is your advice to students aspiring to achieve the kind of academic feat you achieved?
I offer the following advice: First, recognise that hard work and efficient time management are essential. Develop a reading system tailored to your learning style, rather than emulating others.
Challenge yourself and draw motivation from others’ successes without comparison. Focus on your goals — and, if uncertain, strive for excellence in every moment.
Additionally, cultivate humility. Do not hesitate to ask your lecturers, senior colleagues, and peers questions. Lastly, pray persistently for guidance and strength.
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