FROM SETBACK TO STARDOM: THE RELENTLESS JOURNEY OF SHARON EJII OBEY TO THE BAR

By Nwafor Oji Awala |

In an inspiring tale of grit, grace, and unshakable faith, Sharon Ejii Obey has emerged not only as a Barrister but as a shining symbol of relentless determination, proving that setbacks are setups for divine comebacks.

The journey began in 2015 when Sharon, a young woman full of dreams and ambition, gained admission to study Law at North America University. Her passion for the legal profession burned bright — until an unexpected storm struck. By her fourth year, Sharon discovered that her university’s Law degree was not recognized by the Nigerian Law School. Devastated but not defeated, she left with only her transcript, facing an uncertain future.

"I told myself I will never be a school dropout," Sharon recalls. With this personal vow, she returned to Nigeria and knocked on the doors of several universities, seeking admission to continue from where she had stopped. But almost all required her to start afresh — from 100 level. That painful reality, paired with watching her mates graduate and move on, nearly crushed her spirit.

For seven long months, she stayed home, wrestling silently with heartbreak and near-depression. Yet, her faith and the unwavering support of her parents became her anchor. “Psalms 34:4-5 gave me strength,” she says. “Their faces were not ashamed.”

Finally, in 2018, a new chapter opened. Rivers State University accepted her through a direct entry program. Though the Dean initially placed her in 300 level, the Senate later reversed it — she had to restart from 200 level. It was a hard pill to swallow, but Sharon saw the wisdom in moving forward rather than standing still.

Battling self-doubt and silent tears, she pressed on. Encouragement came in unexpected ways. One day, during a lecture on Vicarious Liability, a lecturer, Dr. Emmanuel Wosu, recognized her brilliance. He called her out — not in condemnation, but in affirmation. That became her turning point. “He would literally ask, ‘Where is Sharon?’ once he entered the class,” she said. “So I started sitting in front and showing up boldly.”

Her confidence blossomed, nurtured by mentors like Dean OVC Okene, who shared his own late-blooming journey in law. “Go and check your class,” he challenged her. “If you don’t find someone in their sixties, I’ll refund your school fees.” She did — and she did find them. It was the encouragement she needed. “I realized I was still a baby. School has no age,” she said.

In 2023, the storm finally gave way to sunshine. Sharon graduated from Rivers State University with a Second-Class Upper degree (4.05 CGPA). In 2024, she proceeded to the Nigerian Law School — a place, she described, where “drama became norm,” and fainting during exams was not unusual. Yet, she stood strong, defying the odds once more.

Now a proud holder of both LLB and BL honours, Sharon Obey Esq. reintroduces herself to the world not just as a lawyer, but as a beacon of hope.

“I never allowed my struggles to define me,” she wrote. “I decide what I will make out of it.”

To every young Nigerian facing discouragement, Sharon’s story echoes a timeless truth: Indeed, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

(c) Prime Heritage Magazine