From SS1 scholar to Nigeria’s law school top student: How foundation’s long-term support shaped Adeniyi’s journey

For Adeniyi Israel Adekunle, emerging as the Overall Best Graduating Student of the Nigerian Law School in the 2026 Call to Bar is more than an academic triumph. It is the culmination of more than a decade of sustained educational support that began when he was a Senior Secondary School student and helped remove the cost of education, considered one of the most worrisome obstacles confronting many talented young Nigerians.

Adekunle, who also graduated as the best student in the Common Law programme at the University of Ilorin with a CGPA of 4.83, the highest ever recorded in the faculty’s history, has credited the Oyin Jolayemi Foundation and UTL Trust Management Services Limited, trustee to the Foundation, with playing a defining role in his journey from SS1 through university and the Nigerian Law School.

The Foundation, a private philanthropic organisation focused on expanding access to educational opportunities for Nigerians, recently honoured Adekunle in recognition of his exceptional academic achievements.

For the young lawyer, the recognition represented more than another award. It showcased the transformative power of timely intervention, sustained financial support and long-term…