Awele Ideal, abandoned by her mother as a baby and subjected to years of abuse by her stepmother, overcame immense hardship through education to become a successful lawyer, mediator, and child rights advocate in Nigeria.
A Nigerian woman, Awele Ideal, has defied immense hardships to become an award-winning lawyer, proving that resilience and determination can change one’s destiny.
Abandoned by her mother at just seven months old, Awele was left in the care of her father and a cruel stepmother, who subjected her to years of severe abuse. She endured prolonged hunger, sometimes going days without food, and at her lowest point, resorted to eating leftover food meant for the family dog.
“Sometimes I went hungry for days. She would starve me to the point where I felt close to death. One day, I was so desperate that I ate our dog’s leftover food,” she recalled.
A kind neighbor discovered her plight and secretly provided her with food daily until Awele’s family moved away.
“The woman wept when she heard my story and promised to give me food every day without my stepmother knowing. She kept that promise until we left the compound,” Awele said.
Beyond starvation, Awele’s stepmother subjected her to physical and psychological torment, including brutal beatings, tying her up for days without food, and applying pepper to her eyes, armpits, and private parts.
Despite these unimaginable hardships, Awele remained focused on education, recognizing it as her only escape.
“I knew that the only way out was to succeed academically, so I never joked with my schooling. I had every reason to be bitter, jealous, and hateful, but I chose not to be,” she shared.
Her dedication paid off—she obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Delta State University in 2010, followed by a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Benin. She then attended the Nigerian Law School, where she was called to the Bar in 2011 as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Today, Awele Ideal is a renowned lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, child rights advocate, and the principal counsel of Ideal Chambers, a law firm based in Asaba, Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Nigerian Lawyer Earns Double First-Class, Wins UK Mastercard Scholarship
SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION
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