We will be spotlighting women doing incredible things all through March, and we are starting with Maryam Oso, the best graduating student in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG) Class of 2025 set.
Oso, who finished with a first class, recorded an outstanding Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.61.
Her numerous awards and achievements include:
- Dean’s Prize for the Best All-Round Performance in the Faculty of Law 2024/2025
- Abu Bakri Shonibare Memorial Prize for the Best Overall Graduating Student
- Dr. Teslim Elias Prize for the Best Graduating Student in Land Law
- Mrs. Modupe Osipitan Prize for the Overall Best Student in the Faculty of Law
- Late Hon. Justice Modupe Emo-Eboh Prize for the Best Graduating Student in the subject of Gender and the Law
- Senator Victor Ndoma Prize for the Best Overall Graduating Student in the Faculty of Law
- Pst. Tunde Bakare Prize for the Overall Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Law
- Late Prof. Jelili Omotola SAN Prize for the Best Student in Land Law
- Prof. Imran Smith SAN Prize for the Best Overall Student in Land Law
- Winner of the 5th Annual Prof. J.O. Fabunmi LGIC 2025
- Recipient of the Bankole Olumide Aluko Law School Scholarship for the Best Graduating Student
- Recipient of the Femi Gbede Law School Scholarship 2026
- Recurring Recipient of AAF Undergrad. Scholarship
- Law Ladies Day Award 2025 for Academic All-Star
- The Law Students Society, UNILAG for the Most Fashionable (Female)
Maryam Oso shares how she achieved her first-class feat, her love for the profession was birthed and advice for others going the same path in this exclusive feature with FabWoman.
1. Congrats on your feat once again. Tell us about your childhood. What were your fondest memories growing up?
My childhood was particularly fun-filled, with a strong inclination and preference for education. I am the first child of my lovely parents, who, as teachers, never concealed their strong desire for well-educated children. Without further ado, they set the standard for academic excellence right from the start. The fondest memories of my childhood are the plethora of fascinating moments spent listening to my parents narrating their trials and tribulations while schooling at the university, and those moments spent admiring lawyers on my long summer holidays with my grandmother in the court environment.
2. What influenced your decision to pursue law at the university? Were there early influences—family members, teachers, or experiences—that shaped that dream over time?
My earliest exposure to the legal profession during my summer visitation to my grandmother’s bookstore at the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, ignited my desire to study law at the university. The pictorial images of men and women with unmatched eloquence confidently strolling towards my grandma’s stall in their jet-black robes and silvery wigs to shop for voluminous textbooks became a lifelong ambition—to become a lawyer. In addition to this, my unwavering love for literature in senior secondary school strengthened my desire to pursue a course of study in the humanities department. Thus, picking a course of study at the university was not a hassle.
3. What did a typical study day routine look like for you?
My typical study day routine begins very early, with about an hour or two of revision or a past question attempt. Then my morning salat. After which I leave for my habit, the Law Library (very often early, depending on my lecture schedule for the day). I read, make my personal notes simultaneously, collect law reports to make my case notes, attend study group or tutorial sessions mid-day, take breaks for lunch and mid-day salat. Around five pm (I often leave the school campus around this time; I became known for it), I leave to go back to my abode, after which I either spend an extra three or four hours on assignments, personal notes, or past questions.
4.How did you balance coursework, personal life, and your mental well-being? What sacrifices did you have to make to maintain your level of excellence?
I had several things going on while I studied law, and honestly, maintaining a balance was a huge struggle. I remember how I constantly sought different time management strategies, from keeping a daily to-do list to setting timers for different tasks, and still got burned out. I had to keep up with my academic momentum while simultaneously running a retail business, meeting my clients’ deadlines as a freelance fashion illustrator, and volunteering for roles, internships, and leadership positions with different responsibility spectrums.
I eventually succumbed to my priorities by sacrificing a few things that were not necessarily non-negotiable. I found ways to have more time for myself by taking each task a step at a time. At first, I was sparingly available in the faculty outside of my lectures. I only took on a few roles and gigs at a time without overburdening myself. Overall, the major sacrifice was my social life. However, as an introvert, it was not much of a hassle since I enjoy my personal time. Regardless of the overwhelming tasks, I made time to paint, draw, read non-legal books, and see my favorite shows to escape burnout.
5. How did you stay disciplined when motivation was low?
My daily activities were almost robotic thanks to my consistent routine, which somehow instilled discipline. Although I had some bad days when my dopamine level was extremely low, my common resort is not to abandon my tasks entirely. My academic goal was extremely vivid: to graduate with a First Class regardless of all it took. Hence, a little reflection here and there often geared me up. However, on the days I ran out of fuel completely, I took breaks either by sleeping or doing other hobbies instead of studying to revitalize my spirit and get back to my tasks.
6.What role did mentors, lecturers, family, friends, or courses play in your journey?
My success story is simply not a product of my individual effort. It took a community of support systems and Almighty Allah (SWT). I always open every academic semester with a prayer point, after which I dedicate it to Allah. My family and friends were significant support systems who helped to maintain the goal-getting spirit. I maintained a tight circle of friends and study groups with almost similar academic goals.
We attended lectures and studied together. I also maintained a wide circle of seniors who would often check in from time to time to help boost my momentum, offer clarity, and provide better strategies. A few of my lecturers also played significant roles (directly and indirectly), from sharing helpful study tips to motivational stories during classes and other faculty events.
7. When did you realize you were on track for a first-class and also the best graduating student? When you saw your final results, what went through your mind?
I have always maintained a first-class throughout my first academic year in the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos. I made a 4.81 CGPA in my first year (200 level as a direct entry student), and I only dedicated my remaining years to maintaining that first class till the very end. However, I realized the potential of being the Best Graduating Student in my Fourth Year after the release of the academic broadsheet. Seeing my CGPA then made the goal closer than I expected, which also meant the competitiveness of the goal had increased. Upon seeing my final result, I felt relieved, compensated, and ultimately grateful. Despite the immense pressure I experienced during my final exams, I remember staring in shock at my final CGPA, with just one word in mind, “Alhamdulillah.”
8.What habits or mindset do you believe were most responsible for your success?
Looking back, I had a couple of habits that truly made my academic goal realizable. I was very intentional with the type of people I chose as friends. Although I had friends for different purposes, they all had a few things in common: goal-driven, smart, religious, disciplined, and opportunistic. I also made it a primary task to always read for at least an hour a day, which ordinarily is below my average reading duration. This particularly helped to combat procrastination. Also, I always strived to maintain complete personal study and lecture notes. They took my study, revision, and memorization to a whole different level. I practiced past questions like my life depended on them (because it did). I maintained a very open mind throughout. I did not hesitate to reach out to some of my coursemates when necessary. I also made myself accessible to them when necessary, such as offering tutorials or revision lessons to a few who needed it. This eventually helped me commit my readings to memory better.
9. What does this milestone mean to you personally?
Personally, this academic milestone is my biggest indicator of hope, growth, and career trajectory. It also validates my already established opinion on the possibility and realization of my long- and short-term goals as Allah wills.
10. What impact do you hope to make in the legal field?
I look forward to making impactful contributions in the legal profession and legal scholarship domestically and internationally, especially in corporate governance and sustainability, regardless of the capacity, whether in practice or academic scholarship.
11. What advice would you give students who aspire to achieve excellence like you, especially students studying law, and what’s next for you?
My advice to students who aspire to achieve similar academic excellence is to first identify their academic goal with clarity and personalize their academic journey. Understand that to be excellent means to be exceptional, and excellence is a culmination of consistent habits merged with discipline.