Oso Maryam: The Direct Entry Student Who Became Law BGS

By Success Essien, Jacinta Ijeoma, Ajibola Oyindamola, Ajaraonye Sophie, Vincent Ejiroghene, Oke Olanrewaju, and Akor Precious 

Studying Law is known for its rigour, demanding long hours, sharp thinking, and resilience. At the University of Lagos, thousands of students navigate this intense journey every year, but only a few reach the very top. One of them is Oso Maryam, who emerged as the best graduating student (BGS) of Law with a CGPA of 4.61.

“At first, it felt like the conventional studies I had before university,” she said. 

“I thought it was just read hard, study hard, recollect, and excellent results would come.”

That assumption was quickly challenged.

The intensity of the workload came as a shock. “I was particularly surprised by the stress level involved,” she recalled. “But with time, I adjusted.”

That adjustment often came with self-doubt. According to her, every semester followed a familiar pattern. New motivation at the start, pressure midway, and questioning at the end. “Every semester, I would enter with new vibes and aspirations,” she said. “Then it would get really tough, and I would start doubting myself again.”

One of her earliest defining moments came in her freshman year after entering through Direct Entry into 200 level. She had planned to read a particular case before an early morning class, but did not get the chance. “Unfortunately, that case turned out to be the only question in the impromptu test,” she said. “At that point, I questioned if I really had what it takes to excel in law.”

Rather than retreat, she recalibrated. She restructured her reading schedule, spent more time in the library, and built friendships around studying. “I just knew that I needed more,” she said. “And somehow, it worked out.”

Maryam remained on a first-class track from her first semester, starting with a 4.81 CGPA. Still, excellence came with its own pressure. “I’ve never denied that I wanted to graduate with a first class,” she said. “But the real effort came in 400 level when I realised I had to go all in.”

Competition was unavoidable. “You quickly realise that you can’t do what everyone else is doing and expect to stand out,” she noted. By 400 level, the possibility of emerging as BGS became more real, even though it was a goal she mostly kept to herself.

That changed when people began to notice. “People started calling me BGS,” she recalled. “And honestly, I didn’t even know.”

What sounded like praise felt like pressure. “I don’t do well with external pressure,” she admitted. “There were days I woke up in the middle of the night and cried because I was tired of reading.”

Doing more, however, did not mean abandoning her methods. “I didn’t do anything extraordinary,” she explained. “I just increased the intensity. Longer reading hours, earlier revision, more past questions.”

Beyond academics, law school reshaped how she thinks. “Studying law has taught me to put sentiments aside and focus on facts,” she said. “Now, the first thing I ask is where is the source?”

Despite her achievements, she believes she could have done more earlier. “If I could go back, I would get involved in extracurricular activities sooner,” she said.

To manage stress, she turned to art. “My biggest relaxation routine was drawing,” she shared. A freelance fashion illustrator, she also found comfort in movies, especially K-dramas, during weekends.

Now a graduate, her focus is clear. “The biggest plan right now is law school,” she said. She hopes to build a career as a commercial lawyer with strong interests in sustainability, environmental responsibility, and environmental justice. “I’m concerned about how corporate actions affect society, not just the environment.”

For students starting out, her advice is simple. “Your background does not determine your final result,” she said. “University life is an opportunity to stretch yourself.”