Joseph Jagunmolu Ogunmodede graduates with a CGPA of 6.3, emerging as the 2015/16 Best Graduating Student of the Faculty of Law as well as the valedictorian for nearly 6,000 students at the University of Ibadan.
Joseph Jagunmolu Ogunmodede is the founder of “The Legal Diary,” a blog that simplifies seemingly complex legal problems so non-lawyers can understand.
In the words of Joseph Jagunmolu Ogunmodede:
“I feel very privileged, ecstatic and honoured. I am particularly thankful to God because I am the first Valedictorian from the Faculty of Law of the University of Ibadan (the First and the Best) since the inception of the noble University. More so, I survived an autocrash about five (5) hours before I received the good news that I would have the honour of delivering the Valedictory Speech at my Convocation Ceremony on Monday, the 13th day of November, 2017. In short, I’m fulfilled.
In fairness, I owe everything about this achievement to God! Of course, I acknowledge the effort of my parents, Chief & Chief (Mrs.) Benjamin Oludare Ogunmodede, for their total support and firm belief in me as well as other people who believed I could do it. It was indeed a catalyst because I always told myself that ‘when you become lazy, it’s disrespect to those that believe in your ability’. I’m an average student that needs to read over and over again. However, I tried to be consistent with it and it paid off. I also had good mentors who put me through; the best way to know how a road is or the best manner to tour a path is to ask those that have been there. As a matter of fact, my Academic Mentor from my Fellowship, Ojetayo Victor Daniel, was also the Best Graduating Law Student in the previous set.
I was never ‘the triangle’ kind of student and I think, to the best of my ability, I lived a balanced life. I engaged in politics; I was an Honourable Member of the Sultan Bello Hall House of Assembly in my first year. I was a member of the Sultan Bello Hall Literary and Debating Society but later stepped down because it was unfavourable to my class schedule as a Direct Entry Student. I also joined the Moot and Mock Society where I rose to the position of the Deputy Head and subsequently the Head. As a member of the Moot and Mock Society, I represented the University at a number of Moot and Mock Competitions notable amongst which are the 2nd Edition of the Bamidele Aturu Moot and Mock Competition organized by the University of Ibadan where I was awarded the “Best Witness”. In April, 2015, I also represented the University at the Maiden Edition of the Olasupo Shashore Moot and Arbitration Competition which was held at the University of Lagos where I was awarded the “Best Counsel”. I devoted my time and attention to Chamber activities, as I was a member of the H.O. Davies Chambers. Also, I volunteered at the Women’s Law Clinic and I represented the Clinic at Abuja for the review session of the Street Law Programme organized by the Nigerian University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) in conjunction with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF). I was also active in my Fellowship, the Anglican Students’ Fellowship. Apart from being a member of the Welfare and Academic Units, I was the Welfare Coordinator for the Anglican Freshers’ Forum in my first year and the Welfare Coordinator of the Whole Fellowship in my fourth year. I was also a member of the Christian Law Students’ Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) and I served as the 300 Level Class Pastor/Assistant Prayer Secretary.
My sincere advice to the up-and-coming ones is that they should neither limit themselves nor live in denial. They should set high goals for themselves and work fearlessly towards it with dedication, discipline and determination. Consistency is very important! Just like Wiston Churchill said, ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.’ You can begin from anywhere and still get the applause/ovation of the world.”
