For the first time in its history, the Nigerian Law School produced 161 first class graduates. But most remarkable was the fact that 133 of the first class graduates were women, a boost in the push to encourage girls to be the very best in whatever they do.
The director-general of the Nigerian Law School, Hayatu Ciroma, who is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Tuesday, disclosed that it was the first time in the history of the school that a total of 161 candidates were getting a first class.
“At this Call to the Bar ceremony, a total of 4,779 graduates were successful at the August/ September 2018 Bar Final Examinations; as well as 11 candidates from previous Bar Final Examinations.”
“A total number of 5,846 students participated in the examination.”
“While 161 candidates were graded in First Class, 694 made Second Class Upper, 1, 275 made Second Class Lower and 2, 649 got a Pass mark,” he said
A female, Naomi Uwem, a graduate of Afe Babalola University (Abuad) also emerged as the Best Graduating student, scoring 100 percent pass rate and also bagging 13 awards. Afe Babalola University is also reported to have produced 12 of the 161 first class graduates, another evidence that the country’s private universities are beginning to set new standards in education in the country. In a recent report, graduates from Covenant University, another private tertiary institution were rated as the most employable in the country. Afe Babalola University is founded by a renowned lawyer Afe Babalola.
Chiroma disclosed that of the 161 students graduating with first class 21 of them had First Class in their universities, 134 had Second Class Upper, while six had Second Class Lower in their universities.
“The students maintained their positions as the best of the best in their universities as well as the Nigerian Law School.”
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Speaking Tuesday in Abuja at the call to bar of 4, 779 law graduates who were successful at the August/September 2018 bar final examination, he disclosed that in about 55 years of the existence of the Nigerian Law School it has not had interrupted session, as there has never been any incident of closure on account of student unrest, strike action by staff or for any other reason.
To cure the perceived downturn in the training of lawyers and the consequence of producing low quality lawyers, he said the law school has embarked on aggressive review of curriculum to include teaching of ethical, legal writing, teaching methodology, as well as methods for general assessment of students.
He said out of the total number of 5,846 students who participated in the final Bar examinations, 4,779 candidates were successful.
Ciroma enjoined the new lawyers to make the best out of the legal profession and ensure strict adherence to the norms and ethics of the profession.
Meanwhile, the Legal Practioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has, between January and November this year, debarred seven lawyers, suspended 12 and admonished one for various professional misconduct, the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Bashir Dalhatu, disclosed this yesterday.
Dalhatu said the LPDC which is a committee of the Body of Benchers has been carrying out its mandate in a just and fair manner without giving room for compromise, affection or ill-will.
He advised the new lawyers to be of good behaviour and abide by the ethics and traditions of the legal profession to avoid been bought before the committee.
The life bencher urged the new wigs to eschew evil and stick to the truth and be guided by their conscience and the law, adding that: “As a professional, you must apply wisdom and the courage to refuse to act for a client when client’s instructions would cause you to violate the rules of professional misconduct”.
He noted that the LPDC has the sole responsibility of determining allegations of misconduct against any person whose name is on the roll in his capacity as a legal practitioner and is capable of bringing the profession into disrepute.
Felix Omohomhion, Abuja
