Kingsley Duru bags First Class in Law from Leeds University.
3 min read
In the last few weeks, female Akalites have been making local and international news headlines for the good reasons. First was Ms Lesley Agams who with her team, Women’s Crisis Centre WCC, made Umuaka a Super City following the global program of the famous New York based Blumberg Foundation that identified Umuaka as a Super City among 50 cities in the world. Shortly after that, came the news that Miss Elizabeth Anyanacho had qualified to represent Nigerian in taekwondo as the only athlete in the current Tokyo Olympics Games. To Tokyo, Elizabeth went! The news of Marvelous Duru, another female Akalite who plays for Adamawa female FC also made waves as she won an online voting competition organized by Nigeria Football Federation.
As Umuaka Times was taking note of these feats and inquiring where the male Akalites have run to, came the good news from UK that a male Akalite, Mr Kingsley Duru has not only bagged a First Class in Law from the prestigious Leeds University, he equally won the Annual Leeds University Sustainability Award. According to the findings made by Umuaka Times, the “Annual Sustainability Awards celebrates the sustainable achievements of students and staff at the University of Leeds.” This award came to Umuaka and was given to Kingsley Duru, the son of Chief and Lolo Marcel Duru, a Kano based legal luminary.
While answering questions from the Umuaka Times correspondent in United Kingdom, Duru who was very happy when Umuaka Times called on him opened a historical window about himself for Umuaka Times to understand him better and grab the substance he is made of. After Umuaka Times had congratulated him for the academic achievement and social impact he has recorded, a brief interview ensured.
Excerpts:
Which university did you read law?
I studied Law LLB at the University of Leeds and very pleased to have finished with a First Class. During my time, I was the President of the African & Caribbean Society and President of the Law Society. In my respective tenures, I was fortunate to win an award for my contributions. Namely, I was nominated nationally as President of the Year by Bright Network and London Business School.
Why law?
My interest in law stems from my fascination with how society works and the governance of it, which the law directly underpins. Naturally, to build on this interest, I spent a week as an intern at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer during my first year of studies. It was at Freshfields that I was truly exposed to the breadth and depth of how the law functions. I enjoyed that experience and the work I was tasked to do, which solidified law as my chosen career path.
Does studying a course like law take a lot of time and commitment?
Undoubtedly, studying a rigorous course like Law demands your time and efforts. It was not particularly easy in my final year; I was elected President of our Law Society- making me the only second black Law Society President in Leeds University history. The pandemic disrupted the way we were taught, which required an additional level of adaptation. It took a great deal of effort and organization to balance both, but by God’s blessings, I successfully saw it through to achieve the First Class.
Now you are a lawyer, what is next for you?
My next step as I have concluded my undergraduate degree is towards attending the law school in London.
Do you wish to return home to Nigeria after that?
I have every intention of returning home to Nigeria. My future aim is to create a pathway for my fellow brothers and sisters to have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and seize the opportunity. That is something I am looking excitedly forward to.
Umuaka Times congratulates you for your achievement and rejoices with your entire family.
Thanks a lot sir.
