…My Journey To Becoming A Lawyer
In a comment on a post celebrating my successfully bagging the prestigious Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from the Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi, Engr. James Terhemba Ingbian had said “Mkem taver shima gbem hingir iue” literally translated to mean ‘Through determination/ perseverance, pepper turns into soup.
That aptly captures the story of my quest to bag the LL.B degree which has spanned a period of exactly 30 years, starting in 1993 and culminating in 2023, over 3 repeated attempts.
The first started in 1993 at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife but was aborted in 300 Level due to reasons of my personal safety resulting from my deep involvement in Student Union politics which brought us into collision with the Abacha junta over the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election. I was not rusticated or expelled from Ife, as political smear campaigners love to allege. A second attempt was to come 9 years later in 2002 at the Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi where I was mates with the likes of Gwaza ibn Madaki, Kizito Agbainjo and others, but again I aborted it in 200 Level, this time to get married in 2003 and rear a family, which I wasn’t strong enough materially to combine with academic pursuit. The third and successful attempt started in a second coming at the BSU Faculty of Law in 2017, 14 years after I abandoned the 2nd effort, and culminated, this time in success in 2023, exactly 30 years after I took the first step.
I have my maker and sustainer, God Almighty, to thank for the grace to have kept alive in me the conviction that some day, I will surely be a lawyer. It was only the Divine grace from above that kept me looking up ahead in the face of the insults, trolling and all – grace helped translate those into motivation and hardiness of spirit to keep me going right till I breasted the tape on the race.
I’m supremely proud of the Second Class (Lower Division) Class degree I made. It is my ‘First Class’ gotten while shouldering the onerous task of spokesperson of the Benue State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as fending for a family and a vast clan of dependents. This time God Almighty blessed me with the material strength to combine all of those with studies successfully.
I have so many to appreciate for the roles they variously played in the making of this success story. My wife, Caroline Terngu Iortyom, and the children for the support and stability they afforded me at home; my father, Mallam Ismaila Iortyom and my stepmothers, Mrs. Dorothy Iortyom and Mrs. Christiana Mbahenen Iortom, for their spirito-temporal cover over me, as well as my siblings, among whom Simon Iortyom Shisulen has been my eyes, ears and legs in the family; Senator Gabriel Suswam who pushed me to take this third and successful step and sponsored me at the critical initial stages; my instructors at the Faculty of Law of BSU; my boss for life and mentor, Hon. Barr. Chille Igbawua and his wife, Mrs. Becky Member Igbawua; Chief Samuel Ortom and his wife, Dr. Mrs. Eunice Ortom ; Senator Patrick Abba Moro; Barr. Pius Akutah Gbongbon PhD and his wife, Mrs. Patricia Obehi Pius Ukeyima ; my colleagues in the immediate past State Working Committee (SWC) of the Benue PDP, led by our Chairman, Sir John Ngbede and his Deputy, Hon. Isaac Mffo ; my kinsman and leader, Engr. Stephen Akange and his wife, my sister, Mrs. Priscilla Nguseer Akange, my current principal, Engr. Utaan Terhide Conrad and those who, out of respect for their privacy I may not mention here, as well as others too many to mention individually by name for want of space.
I reserve especial appreciation for my course mates, members of the indomitable SET REGAL led by Class Rep. Richard Ikyan and his Deputy Mercy Kwaghdoo Gera; President of the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) Okpa Markson and members of the LAWSAN Exco, Senators, Heads of Chambers,- they hold the rare distinction of being the course mates with whom my 30 year dream was realised. Among them I found soulmates chiefly amongst them my reading mate and wing-man, Robert Dewua Msughter my ‘Special Assistant Plenipotentiary, Thomas Ukule; Chairman of the Elders’ Forum, Elder Okede Benjamin Ogah and Forum members, Sam Adzuu, Martin Terkura Agabo, Mrs. Chidinma Okenwa, Mrs. Pamela Kashimana Adzende, Abutu Emmanuel Abutu, Terkende Beba, Akaakuma Akaakuma, Otsenu Agishi. Every one of my course mates holds a special place in my heart for as long as I live.
As I get ready to set sail on the ocean of the Nigerian Law School to the destination Port of ‘Call to Bar’ as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, it is with indescribable sense of pride and fulfillment that I look back on my days at the Prestigious Faculty of Law of the Benue State University (BSU) Makurdi. I go forth with a sense of duty to the Faculty as its ambassador wherever I am, to hold its flag high in all I do, pledging to give back to it as much as God Almighty empowers me to do, towards making it a better citadel where tall legal careers will be moulded.
It is my hope that this story of my chequered quest for a Law degree, started at 24 and realized at 54, inspires someone. It is never too late to pursue your dream. Surely, there will be obstacles out there along the way – those who will mock you. But there will also be those who will encourage you. In the final account, it is what you believe deep inside of you that will matter. Pursue your dream, by all means pursue it.
I remain forever a proud SET REGAL –
Chief Bemgba Iortyom LL.B.
