Eximius Takes the Crown at Thrive's First-Ever Advocacy Competition

If you were not watching the Thrive Advocacy Competition on 12 and 20 June, you missed one of the most entertaining student advocacy events this year has seen. Four law classes went head to head across two debate topics, with one winner walking away and a lot of very good arguments left on the floor. Here is the full story.

The Setup

To mark one year of connecting Nigerian law students and young lawyers with jobs, scholarships, and legal opportunities, Thrive LegalSpace partnered with the Law Students Society of Obafemi Awolowo University (better known as IFELAW) to host the inaugural Thrive Advocacy Competition. The competition ran for two days (First day was on Google Meet while the second day was physically on OAU Campus, with 400,000 naira in prizes up for grabs. Yes, you read that right.

Four IFELAW classes were in the mix: Provectus (100 Level), Eximius (200 Level), Sui Generis (300 Level), and Éclat (400 Level). Each class sent its best speakers, and things got competitive very quickly.

Stage One, 12 June: Who Gets to Specialise?

The opening stage gave competitors a topic that Nigerian law students have very strong feelings about: "Law Students Being Allowed to Specialise Before Graduation: A Boon or Bane to the Future of the Legal Profession?"

The matchups were Provectus against Eximius, and Sui Generis against Éclat. Both debates played out on Google Meet, but do not let the virtual format fool you. The intellectual energy was fully present, with arguments being built and dismantled in real time, points pressed hard, and rebuttals that made it clear these speakers had come prepared.

When the dust settled, Eximius (200L) had seen off Provectus (100L), and Éclat (400L) had edged past Sui Generis (300L). Provectus took third place and Sui Generis came fourth.

The final was set: a 200 Level class against a 400 Level class. The younger students against the seniors.

The Final, 20 June: Is Nigerian Legal Education Actually Enough?

The final, which was part of a larger Career Fair event with several interesting programme line ups, brought a topic that hits differently when you are a law student in the thick of your studies: whether legal education in Nigeria is sufficient for major career advancement. Anyone who has ever wondered whether their LLB truly prepared them for legal practice will understand why this one got heated.

Eximius came into the final represented by Chidinma Rhoda Chijioke as Chief Speaker and Adegoke Joy Eniola as Second Speaker. The pair were sharp, structured, and composed, delivering exactly the kind of advocacy performance that makes you sit up and pay attention. They built their case with clarity and held it under pressure.

Éclat responded through Oluwanifemi Oladele as Chief Speaker and Gloria Ogunniran as Second Speaker. It was a strong showing from the 400 Level side, and they gave Eximius a genuine contest throughout. But on the day, Eximius had the edge, and the judges agreed.

Eximius took first place and the 200,000 naira winner's prize. Éclat finished second with 150,000 naira, and Provectus, who had fought their way to third in the opening stage, took home 50,000 naira.

What This Means

For Thrive LegalSpace, the competition was the highlight of a first year spent quietly building something Nigerian law students actually need: a single platform where you can find jobs, internships, scholarships, events, and career resources without spending hours across a dozen different websites and WhatsApp groups.

The partnership with IFELAW brought some of OAU's sharpest legal minds into the conversation, and the quality of debate across both days showed exactly why investing in student advocacy matters. These are students who can argue, and they deserved a stage.

If this is what the inaugural edition looks like, next year's competition is going to be something to watch.

Congratulations to all four classes for competing, and a special word to Eximius: well done.