Winning court battles excites me, says Nigerian SAN Titilola Akinlawon

Titilola Akinlawon, a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), expresses profound gratitude for her life and career, seeing her youthful dreams of prosperity and achievement fulfilled. Reflecting on her journey from a young girl in Yaba with aspirations of fine houses and big cars, she acknowledges divine providence in her success, which extends to a nearly 40-year marriage and thriving children and grandchildren.

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The first thing that comes to mind is sober gratitude to God that I am here, alive, and successful on all fronts.

Akinlawon recalls a childhood marked by boldness and assertiveness. She describes herself as "very daring, outspoken and aggressive," even engaging in fights to protect her younger brother. This early tenacity, she explains, translated into a determined approach to life, where she would pursue goals relentlessly until achieved.

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I was very daring, outspoken and aggressive. I used to fight boys.

Her path to law was not a deliberate choice but a consequence of circumstances. After her A-levels, she aimed for Economics but was denied admission due to a pass in Mathematics. The University of Lagos offered Law as the next best option. "So, I simply fell into it," she admits, adding that with hindsight, it was likely divine intervention, as she finds Economics uninteresting, while law feels like home.

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After my A-levels, I wanted to study Economics, but because I only had a pass in Mathematics, I could not gain admission into the department. At the time, there were only a few universities, and the next best option available to me at the University of Lagos was Law. So, I simply fell into it.

Navigating the legal profession in its early years, particularly as a woman, presented significant challenges. Akinlawon notes that women often face marginalization and must consistently prove their capabilities. She recounts an instance in Kaduna where an opposing counsel underestimated her, only to be impressed by her thorough preparation and presentation. This experience underscores her belief that women must work "twice as hard" to overcome societal disadvantages and stand their ground.

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As a woman, you are often marginalised, so you have to prove yourself repeatedly.