OAU Wins National Moot Court Competition, Student Emerges Best Advocate

Obafemi Awolowo University won the inaugural Streamsowers & Köhn National Moot Court Competition, while its law student, Ase Hephzibah, was named Best Student Advocate for her outstanding advocacy skills.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has emerged as the overall winner of the inaugural Streamsowers & Köhn National Moot Court Competition, outperforming 16 other Nigerian universities. The competition concluded on July 4 in Lagos as part of the law firm’s 20th anniversary celebration.

OAU also recorded an individual success as one of its law students, Ase Hephzibah, was named Best Student Advocate for her outstanding courtroom advocacy during the final round.

Following the written stage of the competition, OAU and Bayero University advanced to the final oral advocacy session, where they argued a simulated legal case before a panel of judges. OAU secured the championship after an impressive performance, while the University of Abuja, the University of Lagos, and the University of Calabar were also among the top finalists.

The organisers explained that the competition was introduced as the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to celebrate two decades of legal practice by giving law students practical courtroom experience. More than 30 universities were invited to participate, with 17 submitting entries. Independent assessors evaluated the written memorials before selecting the finalists.

Chief Operating Officer of Streamsowers & Köhn, Modupeola Olusoga, said the goal was to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real courtroom advocacy by exposing students to practical legal practice.

A partner at the firm, Vincent Owhor, praised the participants, saying their advocacy skills and legal reasoning exceeded expectations despite many of them not yet studying procedural law. He added that the competition also introduced students to specialised legal practice beyond conventional courtroom litigation.

Speaking after receiving her award, Ase Hephzibah described the recognition as both an honour and a challenge. She attributed her success to years of preparation and the support of her teammates, lecturers, and family. She also noted that the competition exposed participants to specialised areas of law that many students rarely experience during their studies.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, LEGIT