Africans Making History: Osarieme Omonuwa First Class Graduate Of Reading University

Africans Making History: Meet Nigerian Osarieme Anita Omonuwa 22, Osarieme is the University of Reading earned a first class degree, she is amongst few of  black females in the history of the 121-year-old 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.

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.

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.”

This 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….

In a chat with THISDAY, more than anything, Barrister Omonuwa feel honoured and grateful to the God for bringing her this far and also thankful to her family members who have encouraged her over the years to be a success. “My father is a legal practitioner, who is so passionate about law. Anytime I have doubt he is always there to put me through in difficult situations. He has been my rock and foundation. My mother has been wonderful and my big brother too is there advising me. Honestly, I won’t be where I am today without them. And being on top of the academics is God. There is no magic wand. It is God because I don’t think I did anything different from others. Yes I studied and still live a balanced life. I think it is God that rewarded my hard work.”

Source: ThisDay

Photo credit:Omonuwa