Justice Requires You Build the Bridge as You Cross It’: Olamide Ajala J.D. ’25 Forges a Path from Nigeria to Global Human Rights Advocate

Matilda Omonaiye/

By the time Olamide Ajala J.D. ’25 arrived at the University of Dayton School of Law, she was already a distinguished lawyer in Nigeria, with a successful career in public service at the Ministry of Justice and in human rights advocacy leading projects for Project Alert, one of Nigeria’s largest non-profits.

But for Ajala, the pursuit of justice knew no borders. She came to Dayton with a clear mission: to gain a deeper expertise in gender-focused immigration law and use it to protect the world’s most vulnerable populations.

“It felt like a great time to deepen my specialization and understand the American legal system from the inside,” she said. “I knew that to make a real impact on transnational issues like human trafficking and asylum, I needed to be equipped with the tools of U.S. law. Dayton’s commitment to human rights and community service felt like the perfect place to do that.”

Ajala immediately distinguished herself as a standout scholar, graduating cum laude in the top ten of her class. Her academic excellence was recognized with a series of prestigious honors, including the President’s Merit Scholarship, two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards, and the Perseverance in Leadership Award for her service to underrepresented communities.

Beyond the classroom, Ajala dedicated herself to hands-on advocacy. As a member of the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, she provided pro bono representation to vulnerable migrants who would have otherwise faced complex proceedings without counsel.

“The clinic is where theory meets reality,” Ajala said. “It’s one thing to read about asylum law, but it’s another to sit across from a client, hear their story, and know that your work is their only hope. It reinforced my belief that justice requires you to build the bridge as you cross it.”

Through LHP, Ajala engaged with national and international leaders in the Honors Roundtable Series, chaired by former Ohio Governor Bob Taft. Her final Leadership Legacy Project partnered with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) to train students and community members to assist asylum seekers in Springfield, Ohio. This project, which she later presented before the Law School’s Advisory Council, became a framework for bridging legal education and grassroots advocacy.
Her commitment to legal scholarship was equally impressive.

Selected as an Associate Editor for the University of Dayton Law Review, she engaged in the meticulous work of refining legal arguments and preparing scholarly articles for publication, contributing to the broader legal discourse. This role, combined with her work as a Teaching Assistant for a U.S. District Court Judge positioned her as a leader and mentor within the law school community.
Her impact and unique story did not go unnoticed. The university featured Ajala on its website in a video for prospective students, where she shared her journey and insights, becoming a prominent voice representing the school’s values and global reach (https://udayton.edu/law/index.php).

“UDSL pushed me beyond technical mastery and deepened my understanding of what it means to be a thoughtful, strategic lawyer in a global context,” Ajala said. “I came here to learn the law, but I leave with a renewed conviction. My experiences, from Nigeria to the classrooms in Dayton and the immigration courts, have shown me that law is not a static code; it is a living tool that, in the right hands, can build a more just and compassionate world.”
 

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