Evelyn Uba is a Nigerian woman who had a lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. She faced many hurdles and setbacks in her journey, including financial struggles, family obligations, and repeated failures at the bar exam. But she never quit on her goal, and after 10 years of studying, she finally passed the California bar exam in January 2021.

Uba left her native Igboland, Nigeria, when she was 18 years old to pursue higher education in America. However, shortly after she arrived, her father had a stroke and she had to put her college plans on hold. She worked various jobs to support herself and her family back home.

Two decades later, she was married and had four children. She still wanted to go to law school, so she enrolled at California Southern Law School in 2005. She graduated in 2011 and started taking the bar exam, which is required to practice law in the state.

In January 2021, Uba received an email that confirmed that she had finally passed the bar exam. She was ecstatic and overjoyed. Her daughter captured her reaction on video and posted it on Twitter, where it went viral.

Uba said that she felt “a huge weight lifted off all of our shoulders” and that she was “so relieved.” She also thanked God for making it happen and said that “it might not be easy but you just have to keep going and never feel sorry for yourself.”

She also expressed her gratitude to her family, friends, and supporters who encouraged her along the way. She said that they were “the wind beneath my wings” and that they helped her overcome self-doubt and frustration.

She also shared her excitement about becoming a lawyer and fulfilling her dream. She said that she wanted to use her license to help low-income individuals and marginalized communities who need legal representation. She said that she was passionate about criminal defense and social justice.

According to the State Bar of California, the pass rate for the October 2020 bar exam was 60.7%, which was higher than previous years due to changes in the format and scoring of the test. However, this rate still means that nearly 40% of the test-takers failed.

The pass rate for repeat takers was even lower at 28%. This means that Uba was among the minority of repeat takers who managed to pass the exam after multiple attempts.

The pass rate for foreign-educated takers was also lower than average at 26%. This means that Uba faced an additional challenge as an immigrant with a foreign degree.

The pass rate for Black or African American takers was 37%, which was lower than other racial or ethnic groups. This means that Uba also had to overcome systemic barriers and racial disparities in the legal profession.

Uba’s story is one of perseverance, resilience, and determination. She overcame many obstacles and hardships to achieve her dream of becoming a lawyer. She did not let failure discourage her or stop her from trying again. She showed remarkable courage and faith in herself and her abilities.

Uba’s story is also one of inspiration, hope, and empowerment. She inspired many people who saw her video or heard about her journey. She gave hope to those who are struggling with their own goals or challenges. She empowered other women, immigrants, and people of color who face discrimination or inequality in their fields.

Uba’s story is also one of success, joy, and fulfillment. She succeeded in passing one of the most difficult exams in the country. She experienced joy when she celebrated with her family and friends. She fulfilled her promise to her father who passed away before seeing her become a lawyer.

Besides passing the bar exam, Uba has achieved other accomplishments in her life. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, San Bernardino, and a master’s degree in public administration from the same institution.

She also worked as a welfare professional for the County of San Bernardino for over 20 years. She helped many low-income families and individuals access public assistance and social services.

She also raised four children who are pursuing their own education and careers. Her daughter, Naeche, is a graduate student at the University of Southern California. Her son, Chukwuemeka, is a senior at the University of California, Riverside. Her other son, Chukwuebuka, is a sophomore at the University of California, Irvine. Her youngest son, Chukwudumebi, is a freshman at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Trending on Rising Africa is Yusuf Aminat Imoitesemeh, a Nigerian law graduate who has achieved what no one else has done in the 40-year history of Lagos State University (LASU): graduating with a perfect 5.00 cumulative grade point average (CGPA). She emerged as the overall best graduating student at the 26th convocation ceremony of LASU, held on June 14, 2023.

Yusuf Aminat Imoitesemeh is the daughter of Ibrahim Yusuf, a journalist with The Nation Newspaper. She attended Imoitesemeh Nursery and Primary School in Adenta, Ghana, where she was born and raised. She later moved to Nigeria with her family and enrolled at Federal Government Girls College, Sagamu, Ogun State, for her secondary education.

She excelled in her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), scoring A1 in all her nine subjects. She also aced the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), scoring 315 out of 400. She applied to study law at LASU, her first choice of institution, and was admitted in 2018.