Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has won the first-ever Streamsowers & Köhn National Moot Court Competition, with one of its students, Ase Hephzibah, also taking home the Best Student Advocate award. The competition ended on Saturday, July 4, in Lagos during activities marking the 20th anniversary of the law firm Streamsowers & Köhn.
OAU Triumphs Over 16 Universities
After a rigorous written stage, OAU and Bayero University advanced to the final oral advocacy round, where they argued a mock legal case before a panel of judges. OAU emerged as the overall winner, while Ase Hephzibah received the award for Best Student Advocate. Other universities that reached the final stage were the University of Abuja, the University of Lagos, and the University of Calabar.
Competition Purpose and Organization
The Chief Operating Officer of Streamsowers & Köhn, Modupeola Olusoga, said the competition was created as the firm's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project to celebrate 20 years of legal practice. Instead of limiting the anniversary to celebrations, the firm wanted to create an opportunity for law students to experience advocacy that reflects real courtroom practice. "We thought about creating a platform where students could come, showcase themselves, showcase their learning, and be exposed to something that mirrors the real court experience," she said. Olusoga noted that although students take part in moot court competitions in their universities, those experiences are often different from what happens in actual courtrooms. More than 30 universities were invited to participate, while 17 submitted entries. Independent assessors reviewed the written memorials before five universities qualified for the finals.
Organizers Praise Student Performance
A partner at Streamsowers & Köhn, Vincent Owhor, said the quality of advocacy displayed by the students exceeded expectations. "For students who have not even gone through procedural law to perform the way they did was thoroughly impressive. Their advocacy skills were excellent, and the quality of their legal arguments was fantastic," he said. According to him, the competition also introduced students to legal practice beyond traditional courtroom litigation while helping them improve their advocacy skills.
Best Advocate Speaks on Victory
Speaking after the competition, Ase Hephzibah said receiving the award was both "humbling and challenging." She credited the achievement to years of preparation, the support of her teammates, lecturers, and family. Ase also said the competition exposed participants to specialised areas of legal practice that many law students rarely encounter.
