A University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) graduate, Israel Adekunle Adeniyi, has emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student of the Nigerian Law School at the 2026 Call to Bar, extending a record of academic excellence that began during his undergraduate years at the institution.

Adeniyi, an indigene of Offa, completed his Bar Part II programme at the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School and was named the top graduating student at the 2026 Call to Bar ceremony.

His latest achievement also earned him a ₦2 million cash award from the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation.

The foundation, In a statement shared on X, said its founder and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, hosted Adeniyi for dinner in honour of his academic success.

“Our Founder, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, hosted Israel Adeniyi Adekunle for dinner following his excellent feat as the Overall Best Graduating Student of the Nigerian Law School at the just-concluded 2026 Call to Bar Ceremony.

“Prior to this great feat, he emerged as the Best Graduating Student from the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin.

“In recognition of his outstanding performance, discipline, and unwavering commitment to excellence, the ABS Foundation presented him with a ₦2,000,000 award,” the foundation stated.

The foundation added that recognising excellence remains at the heart of its mission to inspire and support outstanding young Nigerians.

Adeniyi’s emergence as the overall best graduating student of the Nigerian Law School means he finished both his university education and professional legal training at the top of his class.

Before his latest feat at the Law School, Adeniyi graduated as the best student in the Common Law programme at the University of Ilorin with a cumulative grade point average of 4.83.

Adeniyi was also among the UNILORIN law graduates who recently distinguished themselves at the Nigerian Law School final examinations.

At least 16 graduates of the Faculty of Law, UNILORIN, made First Class Honours in the recently concluded Bar Final Examinations of the Nigerian Law School, while 58 others graduated with Second Class Upper.

A memo dated April 21, 2026, and addressed to the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, by the UNILORIN Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Bashir Omipidan, listed the First Class graduates as Barakat Ogungbe, Adeniyi Israel, Mubarak Owoade, Kamaldeen Akanji and Farida Adeowu.

Others are Tomiwa Ademiju, Glory Oladipo, Joel Victor, Nneoma Mbalewe and Abdullahi AbdulAzeez.

The rest are Boluwatife Oni-Kayode, Adeola Abass, Mariam Oyewumi, Nana Aisha AbdulMaleeq, Rahmat Aduke Oba and Dorcas Oyedele. (Nigerian Tribune)