University of Ibadan Law Graduate Launches Tech Career After Second Class Upper Degree
A remarkable young professional, Ololade Olaniyi, who recently graduated from the University of Ibadan's Faculty of Law with a Second Class Upper Division, has taken an unconventional path by launching a career in technology. Her inspiring journey, which she shared on LinkedIn, details how she pursued her passion for product design immediately after completing her law degree.
From Law Books to Tech Tools: A Dual Journey
Ololade revealed that she had long harbored an interest in design, particularly in the field of User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) design. Since Nigerian universities don't typically offer specialized majors in this area, she took the initiative to create her own educational pathway. "I've always been obsessed with designing, especially Product Design, but since you can't exactly 'major' in UI/UX in a Nigerian uni, I had to carve my own path," she explained in her LinkedIn post.
Her tech education involved five months of intensive learning through multiple channels:
- YouTube instructional videos
- Paid online courses
- Training at Sheda House
During this period, she worked on numerous projects across various industries including Software as a Service (SaaS), sports, lifestyle, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). She collaborated with several prominent companies and learned from industry experts including Ifeoluwa Oladeni, Babayanju Benjamin, Timothy Olomola, and Timothy Ayodele.
Balancing Law School with Tech Ambitions
What makes Ololade's story particularly compelling is her ability to simultaneously pursue both her legal education and tech career. Just six weeks after sharing her tech journey, she resumed studies at the Nigerian Law School's Lagos Campus. "It's been a unique experience, to say the least," she noted. "Every day is literally a cycle of unlearning and relearning everything I thought I knew. But I am grateful for it."
She described her current routine as "Law by day, design by night (and sometimes both at once)," acknowledging the demanding nature of this dual pursuit while expressing genuine enthusiasm for the journey.
Social Media Celebrates Her Achievement
Ololade's story quickly gained traction on social media platforms, where numerous users congratulated her on her impressive accomplishments. Francis Okafor commented, "Well done, Ololade. I am rooting for you," while Omolola Ikuemonisan added, "Well done. I wish you outstanding success in law school." Timothy Omolola simply praised her as "Well done, big woman."
Her narrative has resonated with many young Nigerians navigating career choices in a competitive job market, demonstrating how traditional academic paths can successfully merge with emerging technological fields.
The University of Ibadan graduate's story comes at a time when many Nigerian graduates are exploring alternative career paths beyond their primary degrees. Her experience highlights the growing trend of professionals combining formal education with self-taught tech skills to create unique career opportunities in Nigeria's evolving digital economy.
