* Rated second overall best amid applause
A devout Muslim and trailblazing scholar, Maryam Abiodun Lawal has emerged one of the top performers at the 2025 Nigerian Law School Call to Bar ceremony, clinching the titles of Best Graduating Female Student and Second Overall Best Graduating Student.
Ms. Lawal, an hijabi and alumna of the Faculty of Law (Common and Islamic Law) at Lagos State University (LASU) was also awarded the prize for Best Student in Corporate Law Practice, receiving a total of eight awards, at the prestigious event, held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Abuja.
Muslim News gathered that among the 5,734 candidates called to the Nigerian Bar by the Body of Benchers (BOB), which is the highest in the school’s history, Maryam’s exceptional performance stood out, positioning her as a national symbol of legal brilliance and a proud ambassador of LASU.
I was officially called to the Nigerian Bar today.
I emerged as the Best Female Student and the Second Best Graduating Student Overall in a cohort of 7,134 students. I was also awarded the prize for Best Student in Corporate Law Practice, receiving a total of eight awards. pic.twitter.com/7gLInZcJQx— Maryam Lawal (@maryamlawal_) July 10, 2025
The Muslimah shared the good news on her social media handles, saying, “I was officially called to the Nigerian Bar today (Thursday, June 10). I emerged as the Best Female Student and the Second Best Graduating Student Overall in a cohort of 7,134 students. I was also awarded the prize for Best Student in Corporate Law Practice, receiving a total of eight awards.”
Ms. Lawal recalled how her journey through the Nigerian Law School began in January 2024 when she received the prestigious Law School Scholarship, Reginald Aziza Leadership in Law.
According to her, “It was a period defined by rigorous academic demands, an highly intensive curriculum, long study hour, moments of self-doubt, fatigue, and mental exhaustion. It was also a journey of resilience, growth, and purpose and I am thankful to God for this milestone.
“As I step into this next chapter, I am filled with anticipation for the path ahead and the exploits that I will make in the legal profession, Allah’s willing,” she added, while giving thanks to Almighty Allah.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, at the ceremony, the Dean of LASU’s Faculty of Law, Professor Kareem Olatoye, expressed heartfelt pride in Maryam’s remarkable achievement.
He described her as “a true ambassador and a shining example of the excellence we instil in our students,” and encouraged both current and future law students of the university to emulate her dedication, brilliance, and steadfast commitment to academic excellence.
In her official statement, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olatunji-Bello, congratulated Maryam on behalf of the entire LASU community, hailing her as a beacon of the institution’s academic ideals.
“This remarkable achievement underscores the high standards of education and mentorship at LASU. It reflects our commitment to nurturing globally competitive graduates who will stand out anywhere in the world,” she said.
She also commended Professor Olatoye and the Faculty of Law staff for their tireless dedication to shaping students who not only meet but surpass global standards of legal training.
Maryam’s academic journey, rooted in both Common and Islamic Law, reflects LASU’s unique curriculum and its capacity to produce lawyers who are well-versed in Nigeria’s plural legal systems. Her dual honours represent more than personal success—they spotlight LASU’s growing national stature in legal education.
Her story, as a Muslim woman excelling at the highest level of legal training in the country, also serves as an inspiration to young girls across Nigeria and beyond, especially those pursuing careers in law and other competitive fields.
LASU has proudly hailed Lawal Maryam Abiodun as a shining embodiment of its motto: For Truth and Service. Her success story is a testimony to what is possible when hard work, faith, and purpose-driven education come together.
Muslim News Nigeria rejoices with Maryam Lawal, other Muslims called to Bar
We pray that Allah (SWT), in His infinite mercy, continues to bless and elevate our dear sister, Maryam Abiodun Lawal, who has distinguished herself with excellence and dignity. May He preserve her faith, increase her in knowledge, wisdom, and sincerity, and make her a shining example of integrity and professionalism in the legal profession. May her hijab remain a crown of honour and her journey continue to inspire countless young Muslimahs to pursue greatness while upholding their Islamic identity.
Interestingly, today also marks exactly seven years since Firdaus Amasa was eventually called to the Nigerian Bar on July 10, 2018, after her initial denial in 2017 for refusing to remove her hijab. Her principled stand sparked nationwide and global conversations about religious freedom and the rights of Muslim women in professional spaces.
Maryam Lawal’s historic achievement, alongside many other hijab-wearing female lawyers called to the Bar this year, is a testament to the impact of that bold struggle. Firdaus’ courage paved the way for a more inclusive legal profession where Muslim women can now uphold both their faith and their career aspirations without compromise.
To all Muslim brothers and sisters who have also been called to the Nigerian Bar, we ask Allah to grant you steadfastness, barakah in your careers, and the strength to uphold justice with fear of Him. May your legal practice be a means of service to humanity and a source of reward in the Hereafter. We pray that Allah makes you all agents of positive change, defenders of truth, and shining ambassadors of Islam in every court and community you serve. Aameen.
– Rasheed Abubakar, Publisher, Muslim News Nigeria
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