Nigerian Becomes First Black Woman to
Graduate with a First Class Degree from
the University of Reading Uk
By Gidado Shuaib



A Nigerian, Osarieme Omonuwa, broke the jinx at
the University of Reading to become the first black
woman to earn a first class degree in the history of
the 121-year-old institution. Funke Olaode writes
At 22, Osarieme Anita Omonuwa could be described
as a genius just waiting to be called a legal legend
in Nigeria. There are many reasons for that. Her
determination to excel and continuous drive to
conquer new academic heights are proofs that for
this young lawyer, the future holds great things.
On a recent week, the International Conference
Center in Abuja, the venue of this year’s ceremony
for the lawyers called to the bar erupted with a
thunderous applause as Omonuwa marched
forward to receive her numerous academic laurels.
It was a day she would live to remember.
Her father shed tears of joy while her mother’s joy
knew no bound as she smiled to the goodness of
God in her offspring. Indeed, for her it was a day of
glory.
Indeed, the future actually lies in the resounding
success of the likes of Omonuwa who bagged a first
class honour at the University of Reading, United
Kingdom, and becoming the first black woman in
the history of the university to do so.
On November 26, she repeated the feet when was
listed as a first -class lawyer during the called to
bar 2014.
Her academic prowess saw the young lady winning
almost all the prizes including the best overall
female graduating student among 6, 883 students
that sat for the examinations. Consequently, she
bagged a total of six Prizes: Best Student of the
year, Council of Legal Education Star Prize,
Corporate Law Practice amongst others.
The Edo State born Omonuwa not only arrived at
the the Law School with a University of Reading,
first class degree in Law, but also emerged as the
very first Nigerian to graduate the final bar
examination from overseas with a first class BL
degree, a feat in the 51-year existence of the
Nigerian Law School.
Omonuwa has been a trailblazer with academic
excellence before she left Igbinedion Education
Centre and moved to the United Kingdom.
In 2010, she received the University of Reading
scholarship award and won recognition as the
overall best in the international foundation
programme.
At the age of 20, she bagged a first-class degree at
University of Reading, winning the Chancellor’s
Award for the year.
For her stellar performance, Omonuwa became the
first black woman to win the University of
Reading’s Chancellor Award in the history of the
institution. The Chancellor of the university, Sir
John Madejski, on the occasion of the award
presentation described Omonuwa as “a
representative of our brightest and best students.”
his rare accolade from Sir. Madejski didn’t go
unnoticed as Omonuwa’s face became a symbol of
excellence for the black community at the
University of Reading and Nigeria her country as
her photographs was mounted on every wall of the
institution to celebrate Nigeria’s centenary early in
the year.
Omonuwa’s walk to academic excellence followed
the same path of an ordinary student, but she
achieved extra-ordinary accomplishments to prove
to the world that to be studious and dedicated have
reward.
In 2003, she won the Bornvita Award as the best
graduating pupil and repeated the same feat at
Igbinedion education Centre in Benin City, where
she emerged the best student, carting away almost
all the best prizes in 2008/2009 academic session.
According to her father, Omoruyi Augustine
Omonuwa (SAN), a legal luminary based in Benin
City, the success attained by Ms. Omonuwa came
through a dint of hard work. “I feel on top of the
world as a father. I am a proud and happy father.
She dedicated herself to the study and she got the
reward,” he said.
Omonuwa, who was born in 1992, has been a very
bright girl, always on top of her class. At a time,
when she left kindergarten to primary section, she
was the best student as well. So, from her tender
age Omonuwa didn’t leave anyone in doubt about
her great future.
“She went through Our Lady of Apostle’s Primary
School and from start to finish she was the best.
She was also the overall best in the final
examinations in that school. She proceeded to
Igbinedion Education Center, Benin City and was
the best in the junior secondary school and then
moved to the senior secondary school, where she
emerged the best and won all the prizes in both
sciences and Arts. Because of her I endowed a
prize in that school in her name called Omonuwa
Osarieme Anita Prize for excellence. Nobody ever
won it for the whole year she went through
university until her final year in the university,” her
proud father explained.
Speaking further, her father said Omonuwa has
always been a kid star right from childhood. “I
noticed the trait right from birth because she is very
smart and precise in what she does. She does not
forget anything as a little kid. She was the best in
West African Examination Council in her School, the
best in Cambridge, SAT and TOEFEL, NECO. There
was search for talent in science and mathematics
she was the best in mathematics in the state and
even got the certificate. I took her to the United
Kingdom where she did foundation course and also
emerged the best and that qualified her for the
degree and also won a scholarship.”
But her stellar performance in secondary school
didn’t influence her choice of law. It was a product
of providence and influence.
“I influenced her to study law”, the senior
Omonuwa confessed. Having had a son who is
already an engineer and a father who is already a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria with a thriving law firm
in Benin is understandable. “I had to work on her to
come to my own profession. Because I wanted her
to read law, I took her around through top law
chambers. I pushed her to law if she didn’t make it
I would have felt guilty. Her school wanted her to
go for science but I wanted law for her because she
is O. A Omonuwa and I am also O. A. Omonuwa,”
her father added.
How did the Omonuwa’s bring their daughter up? “I
taught her to always work hard, to believe in
herself and give her a lot of motivational talks. She
is focused because she doesn’t want to fail she
always wants to be on top. We live together as a
close-knit family that you have to be truthful. All
those things prepared her. Apart from being an
‘efico’ she is all-rounder. In cooking, dancing, hair-
dressing, modeling, cat-walking, dressing and that
entire she is first class. Sometimes I get scared
because she likes to enjoy herself. And when she
got to the law school I warned her but she said she
had to do what she knows how to do best.
Again, she got into all the activities trying to help
the less privileged people and even got certificates
for all these. She organized some social events
called hugging. When you hug yourself she collects
money and gives it to the less privileged under
Bwari Child Foundation.”
Praising his wife who has been the bedrock of the
family, the senior Omonuwa said she is a very
religious woman and strong supporter of the family.
“My wife gave up a lot to keep the children because
she probably would have been a permanent
secretary in the federal ministry now but gave up
her job and came to Benin to nurture the children,”
he said.
“Omonuwa winning laurels is a natural progression
and didn’t come to me as a surprise because since
her kindergaden days she had always been on top.
I recall a particular incident that happened when
she was in secondary school. She wrote
examinations and was inconsolable and we asked
her why. She said she wasn’t sure she was going
to get 100 percent. She is also a very considerate
and compassionate person.
When she was going abroad we said Anika come
home with the prize she said I am not going to
disappoint. When it was time for her to go to Law
School we said Anita you have already set a trend
she assured us that she would try. She never tells
you she is perfect. When we heard the news that
she made a First Class it was more or less a
confirmation of what we are expecting. We thank
God for the wonderful things He has done in her life
we are also thankful to her for keeping the flag
flying. She has really made us proud. She is a
blessing,” she said.





youthsdigest.com/nigerian-becomes-first-black-woman-to-graduate-with-a-first-class-degree-from-the-university-of-reading-uk/

Ogene Me

Name Checkers Association reporting for duty....

Good job sister..

Signed,

Milan Branch..

9CE ONE

Congratulations my fellow Bini woman , we'll keep on striving to bring glory to our homeland whether home or abroad.

elantraceey:
Congratulations my fellow Bini woman , we'll keep on striving to bring glory to our homeland whether home or abroad.

The post didn't say shez a bini woman. it sayz shez a nigerian

ril19:


The post didn't say shez a bini woman. it sayz shez a nigerian

Taking time to read will help you a lot.

A

I keep saying it that dis what we are known for here in South/West think whatever you like to think but the fact remains that Pa Awo has set the pace for us and the generation coming. Congratulation!!! Emma woo wan, wan quote mi o, awon omo-ale jatijati

All those men crying for boy children. Check this girl Biko. She has done what 4 boy children cannot do. See how the father is jumping up and down on her matter. Congrats young girl. All the best

Beautiful. Greater heights dear

Nigerians are really smart

Very, very old news.