Biodun Kazeem is the first graduate to bag the first class grade in the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin,
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.
Congrats to him..
