By Hikmot
Faculty of Law, Olabisi Onabanjo University, on Thursday, July 9, 2026, held its 13th Valedictory Session at the Otunba Gbenga Daniel Hall (OGD Hall), celebrating the graduation of the 179 members of the Legal Paradigms Class. The ceremony also saw Ajani David, the Faculty’s Best Graduating Student, emerge as the Class Valedictorian following the valedictory speech contest.
The ceremony brought together members of the University community, alumni, parents, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the graduating Class of 2025/2026.
The event was declared open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Oladapo Olubomehin.
Delivering the keynote address, the Guest of Honour, Hon. Justice Olufemi Adeniyi, encouraged the graduands to remain steadfast in pursuing their dreams, describing graduation as the beginning of a new phase rather than the destination. Reflecting on his academic journey, he revealed that he graduated with a Third Class degree in his LL.B. programme before earning a Second Class Upper at the Nigerian Law School.
Also speaking, the Guest Lecturer and alumnus of the Faculty, Mr. Muyiwa Odubela, urged the graduating students to reflect on their journey since their first day in the Faculty.
“Belief systems are the invisible force that produce visible destinies,” he said.
He further encouraged the graduands not to forget their alma mater and to remain committed to giving back to their communities.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the selection of the Class Valedictorian. Six graduating students were nominated for the honour. Following the assessment of the contestants’ valedictory speeches, Dr. A. K. A. Kolawole announced the Faculty’s Best Graduating Student, Ajani David, as the Class Valedictorian after he recorded the highest score of 74 per cent among the finalists.
Delivering his valedictory speech, David said:
“Success in life is not always determined by how brilliantly one starts or how favourably things work out in the beginning, but by the courage to rise after a serious fall.”
He further remarked:
“Whenever you wake up, that is your morning.”
Speaking with Campus Mirror after the ceremony, David described the achievement as “a dream come true,” saying it was a goal he had nurtured since the beginning of his LL.B. programme.
He advised students aspiring to graduate with outstanding results to put God first, adding that “regardless of your level, there’s always an opportunity to push again because it is not the end until it is the end.”
Also speaking with Campus Mirror, a parent, Mr. Olufemi, described seeing his son graduate from the Faculty of Law as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.
“Seeing my son as a law graduate is having my 1970 dream of studying law come to pass, and that’s my happiness,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards to outstanding graduating students in recognition of excellence in academics, leadership, meritorious service, philanthropy, and other areas of distinction. Awards of Excellence for academic performance were presented to Ajani David Temitope as the Best Graduating Student, Ukocha Chinonyerem Maryanne as the Second Best Graduating Student, and Alayo Atiyyah Ayomide as the Third Best Graduating Student.