Osun State indigene, Lateefat Bolanta, who bagged first class in Law at the Ekiti State University and the Nigerian Law School, tells TEMITOPE ADETUNJI how her boyfriend (now her husband) sponsored her and how she was able to balance the demands of marriage, motherhood, and academic work......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
It was said that you graduated with double first class honours in Law, how did you achieve that and from which school?
My name is Lateefat Olaide Bolanta, I am from Osun State and I work at the Ekiti State University. It has always been my dream to study Law right from my childhood; this dream was inspired by always seeing my dad’s friend, who is a lawyer; this also made my dad to support my dream to study Law. As expected, I chose the arts class in my senior secondary school despite pressure from teachers to go to the science class.
After my WASCE in 2006, I started applying to universities. I later got admission to the University of Ilorin in 2007, but I was unable to go due to lack of funds. That same year, my elder sister who was already studying Microbiology at the then University of Ado Ekiti encouraged me to join her in Ado Ekiti to keep applying for admission from there, so I took my UTME again but was not given admission.
At that time, the Faculty of Law, University of Ado Ekiti, was disaccredited by the Council of Legal Education for some reasons, so I was unable to enter the Faculty of Law. However, the faculty had the Diploma in Law programme, which was active; I applied for admission for the Diploma in Law and was admitted in 2008. The diploma programme, which was supposed to run for two years, ran for over three years and at the end, 55 students took the final exam out of which only five of us had the credit grade which is equivalent to second-class upper.
Being qualified for direct entry admission as the faculty had been reaccredited; I applied to the same school again. However, again I was not given admission, and this became another setback for me. I was sad, and I cried but I had to move on and because I couldn’t wait, I heard about the National Open University from a friend and decided to give it a try. My friend and I applied and were given admission almost immediately. At the National Open University, when you have the required qualifications, they give you admission, and you start your programme. Even though as of then, Law was not accredited in that university, they kept giving us hope that it would, and along the line as the hope was fading out, I started working to sponsor myself, and I didn’t give up; although I got little support from my parents in school, it wasn’t enough. I stopped working in 2014 because I needed to focus on my studies and I started selling used clothes to continue sponsoring myself.
By the time I was in my fourth year, I applied again to the University of Ado Ekiti, which had then been renamed the Ekiti State University in 2015 and was again not given admission. I applied again in 2016, and by that time, I had met my husband and this time got admitted through direct entry but unfortunately, the acceptance and school fees were increased and I could not afford them; that would have been a dead-end but for my husband, who was my boyfriend then; he paid my school fees. I started my schooling in 2016 and got married the following year; I also had my son the same year I got married.
How were you able to balance family life and being a student?
I balanced between being a wife, mother, and a student and running some businesses so as not to be idle; this was a major challenge for me because it was difficult combining these roles. I had another child in 2020 but unfortunately I lost him. Despite all the challenges, I finished at EKSU in 2021 due to COVID-19 disruptions; amidst all my engagements and responsibilities, I finished with a first-class as the best graduating student in the Faculty of Law, and as the second person in the history of the Ekiti State University to achieve a first-class. I was admitted to the Law School in November 2022 and resumed in January 2023; we wrote the final bar exam in November 2023 and I graduated from the Nigerian Law School with a first-class also.
What type of childhood did you have?
My childhood was quite normal; I come from an average family of seven with averagely educated parents. I am the second child of the family. There was no abuse whatsoever and my parents actually understood the fact that a child is better talked to than beaten. They ensured that we had the basic primary and secondary education.
What motivated you during the challenging times? Were there specific things that fuelled your determination?
I learned some skills like graphic and web design, but it wasn’t enough. I really wanted to be a lawyer. I wanted to be an advocate and have a voice, especially when it comes to gender issues. I believe that Law will give me the platform to do that. The fact that I have struggled to become a lawyer is a motivation, and there will be nothing to show that I have tried if I am not giving my best.
You mentioned that your boyfriend, who is now your husband, paid your tuition. Many Nigerian men would not want to take such a risk. Do you think it’s the proper thing to do?
I would advise that it’s not bad to invest in anyone you want to marry, and any girl who has been helped by their boyfriends should be appreciative.
How did you meet your husband?
I met him when I was campaigning for vice-president at the National Open University; he was also campaigning for a post. So, we decided to collect each other’s number.
What year did you get married?
We got married in 2017.
At what point did you realise that he was your husband?
When he asked for my hand in marriage, actually I was drawn to him because he is future-oriented. He considers the future in anything he does in the present; he is a prayerful and very supportive man.
Would you say your husband made your achievement possible?
Yes, he made it possible. As of the time I got the admission, if no one paid my tuition, I would have forfeited that admission. Although I don’t know what would have happened the next year, he was the one that made it possible.
How did you feel when you saw your result?
I’d been able to calculate my GPA right from 200-level, and when my result came out, I wasn’t really surprised; however, seeing my Law School result was the happiest moment of my life. For 15 years, I’d been pursuing this career, and I didn’t just graduate; I finished with a first-class in Law, so I was incredibly happy.
What study methods and strategies did you apply which helped you achieve your goals?
I’m not someone who procrastinates; I read every day as if I have an examination the next day. Sometimes, when I don’t feel like reading, I take a break; I don’t force it. But what matters is consistency, which is key. Being motivated isn’t enough; I prioritise reading consistently.
How were you able to manage your academics with your marital duties?
Well, it wasn’t easy. There were times I cried and got frustrated, and wished I had the opportunity to finish school before getting married. I went to school in the morning, resumed my business in the afternoon, and fulfilled my duties as a wife later in the evening, and always fulfilled motherhood duties throughout the day. It was very challenging. But because of my resolve to become a lawyer, I knew I had to put in all my effort. That dream kept me going and motivated me not to give up.
What kind of business were you doing then?
I was into graphic design, website design and printing.
What firm do you currently work for?
I am yet to join any firm but I got an offer from Ekiti State University last year; I applied and was employed as an assistant lecturer. I am planning to have my firm in the near future.
As someone who earned a first-class degree from the university, did you get the opportunity to pay attention to other aspects of your life?
While growing up, I watched as my father who had been doing well suddenly fell from grace to grass when he was swindled by his business colleagues, struggling to fend for the family and how we had to move from a duplex apartment to a one-room apartment and everything fell apart. This experience strengthened my resolve to always be the best at what I do and to make sure I excel at it.
On the second leg of the question, as someone who earned a first-class degree both from the university and the Nigerian Law School despite being a full-time student, I was also a married woman, and a mother and I ran a printing business. I was able to attend to these other aspects of my life although it wasn’t easy but I was able to manage my time efficiently.
It’s common for students to have some difficulties assimilating in their first year being in a new environment, what was your experience?
I wouldn’t say my first year was difficult because I earned my diploma in Law at that particular university; the only challenge I faced was having to start over at the 200 level as a married woman. At first, it was a bit difficult combining these roles but I was able to acclimatise and successfully navigate the challenge.
How easy or difficult would you say bagging first-class honours in Law was?
Bagging first-class honours in Law was not a walk in the park; it required consistent effort and a firm determination not to give up. Given my background in Law, I had a firm resolve to graduate with a first-class right from my entry point into the 200 level as a direct entry student; this resolution kept me going even at some point when it seemed impossible.
Were there times you almost gave up on that goal?
Yes, but I didn’t give up. I almost gave up when I lost my second child and the examinations were approaching and I couldn’t read. But my husband kept encouraging me till I was strong again to start preparing for the exams. This affected my grade in Jurisprudence and I thought I would fall beneath my desired grade but as God would have it, it was merely a slight blow
What was your cumulative grade point average?
My CGPA was 4.56
Were there things you did differently that stood you out academically?
I always believe that attendance in class goes a long way. I attended classes, and ensured that I started studying as early as the first day of class for every semester; I also read as if the examination was the next day. I took breaks from books whenever I was bored, overwhelmed, or did not just feel like reading. Apart from the above, I don’t think there is anything I did differently.
What will you describe as your most challenging moment on campus?
I don’t think I have any, except for the fact that I went to school from home every day because I did not stay close to the campus.
Did you have people you looked up to in the legal profession while studying at the university?
Yes, I am inspired by the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloma Mariam Mukhtar; first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Folake Solanke (SAN); I also look up to one of my lecturers in whose law firm I once worked as secretary, Dr Babalola Abegunde
Did you win any scholarship or award throughout?
No, I did not win any.
How would you have felt if you hadn’t graduated with a first-class degree?
Well, I would have felt bad because I knew I put in my best.
Graduating as a first-class student, what was your husband and parents’ reaction?
My husband was happy and in his own words ‘fulfilled’. My parents were proud of me and wouldn’t stop calling me ‘our first-class lawyer.’
Given your academic achievement, what advice do you have for current and future students aspiring to excel in Law?
The first thing is to have passion for what one is doing. You can grow the passion, because motivation may not be enough. You have to be ambitious and disciplined. Every other thing you want to do as a youth will follow later; so they should plan very well as if their exam is tomorrow. Discipline yourself to excel in all areas, and attend classes. Attendance for classes can never be overemphasised; there is nothing anyone wants to teach you out there. Your lecturers teach you, they are the ones who set the exams, and they will also mark them, so attendance at lectures is very important.
