On Friday, May 5, 2023, the University of Nairobi held a student recognition award ceremony to honor over 700 students who have performed exemplary in various categories.
Among the award recipients on this auspicious occasion was Edgar Odongo Ochieng who received several awards for the best overall student in academic performance at the Faculty of law 2021/2022 Academic Year.
in a brief interview Edgar expounds more and what the future holds for him:
My name is
My name is Edgar Odongo Ochieng. i graduated with Bachelor of Laws( LLB)( First class honors) in 2022
What award did you receive and what does the award mean to you?
I received 4 awards
- Mohammed/Muigai Advocates Prize.
- Kaplan and Stratton Advocates Prize
- University Alumni Association Prize
- Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Trustee Fund Prize
I feel immensely honored for having been nominated for the four prizes. The four awards recognized me for having emerged as the top graduating student from the faculty of law in the graduating class of 2022. Personally, these awards eloquently remind me that there is virtue in honest, hard work. It is an immutable principle that for every hard work, there is a reward. Therefore, having toiled diligently over the four years, these awards have vindicated me and all people out there who are firm believers in diligence and hard work.
Are you currently working? Where? experience thus far in the job space
I am currently pursuing my Advocates Training Program( ATP) at the Kenya School of Law.
What advice n encouragement would you give the current FOL students ?
I advise them that there is no limit to what they can achieve in their law school career. When I began my very first semester, I really dreamt big. I promised myself to do my best- for myself. Despite the daunting and rigorous law school life, I reckon to you that you can achieve excellence if you honestly put in the work. As Shakespeare puts it : “this above all, to thine own self be true”. Therefore, consider yourself, your abilities and the limitless potential that is innate in you. Having believed that I could do it, there was no other thing that could stop me. The only stumbling block to achieving your ambitions is yourself. If you think that you are beaten, then you already are. To quote Walter D. Wintle “Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but soon or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN”. I encourage you therefore to have a relentless self-belief.
I also advise my younger brothers and sisters to broaden the scope of their focus beyond class work. There is more to success than being a bookworm. I remember that I participated in diverse out-of-class activities. I was a mooter and a writer. I particularly emphasize the importance of writing. Venture to write that journal article, that blog or any other thing that will aid you to advance your writing skills.
A quote you live by?
My favorite quote comes from the scriptures “ I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me” Philippians 4:13. Indeed, we can achieve everything if we are in Jesus Christ. It will be unfair for me give my experience without mentioning the place that my faith in God has had in this achievement. For believers like me, I exhort you that He who begun a good work in us will surely finish it. God is truly faithful. I also draw great inspiration from this quote by Edgar Albert Guest (namesake) “Can't is the worst word that's written or spoken; Doing more harm here than slander and lies”. I therefore urge you to shun the word “Can’t”. If you invest your mind and effort in it a dream, nothing can stop you. All of us should confidently live by the mantra: "I can."
Future plans?
The future is honestly bright. At the moment, I plan to complete my ATP program at the Kenya School of law. I also plan to immediately begin my LLM. Beyond LLM, I wish to cut out a niche for myself in the practice of Law and Technology with a focus on the emerging phenomenon of Artificial Intelligence and the law. Over and above this and although I am yet to finally figure out how I will do this-I wish to be involved in an initiative where I can encourage and motivate young people on matters of excellence and faith.
