Antoinette-Rita Okoiye
Panache Global Entertainment celebrate their first Annual Award Recognition night 27th September 2014 at the 02 center in London. The night was full of glamour and enjoyment.
PGRAE AWARD 2014 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN EDUCATION.
Antoinette-Rita Opeyemi Okoiye is a 24-year-old trainee Commercial Barrister originated from London, England. She completed her LL.M Master in Laws at the University of Chicago Law School in June 2014. She graduated from The London School of Economics and Political Science in July 2012 and was called to the Bar of England and Wales.
She is also a Commercial and Civil Law Mediator. Not only is she a trainee barrister in England and Wales, but also a poet of over 700 poems, an author of two books, a song-writer of over 200 songs, and a motivational speaker to the youth.
Before studying at LSE, She was awarded a New Futures Fund scholarship based on her 3 A-Level results in Economics, English Literature and History, and, my GCSEs of 6A*s and 4As.
She was a young carer to her mother who has polio from the age of seven until She started university in England. She has received numerous awards for her accomplishments such as:
Young Poet award in Florida in 2004 via the International Society of Poets, She came third place in an Institute of Economic Affairs competition in 2008, She won the Academic Excellence Award 2011 from the National African-Caribbean Student Society Awards, she won the Spirit of London Award for Achievement through the Arts 2011 courtesy of SOLA and the Damilola Taylor Trust, held at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.
Miss Antoinette also received the Jack Petchey Achievement Award for outstanding achievement at Sea Cadets during the month of February 2003. Furthermore, She has published two poetry publications entitled Purple & Blue – Inspirational Poems and The Blue Ocean – Peace, Power, Prosperity (Volume 1).
Also was recognised as one of 100 of the UK’s most outstanding new black graduates courtesy of Future Leaders which was sponsored by Barclays, Google, University of Cambridge and Rolls-Royce in 2012, and won the PEN Award courtesy of Power-list Ireland which recognises the 100 most influential Africans in Ireland and the United Kingdom in September 2012.
With her accomplishments, She has made a positive impact in terms of developing her skills, qualities, potential and ability, encouraging others around her especially those who have been in her position, but most of all making her mother, who has polio and has raised her single-handedly, proud. This included organising and hosting her music concert at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Complex (Theatre) in August 2011 where 500 people attended to watch her perform her own songs, dance and recite her poetry.
Additionally, Mr. Prime Minister, David Cameron, has expressed a fondness for her books in writing and when She met him inside 10 Downing Street on Monday 19th September 2011 (her actual twenty-first birthday). As a result of her success in poetry, music and academic attainment, Her Royal Majesty, The Queen of England, Elizabeth II, has written two letters to her acknowledging and praising her achievements.
Furthermore, She has received other letters from members of the Royal Family such as: The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
As part of her work, on Monday 17th October 2011, She held a book launch of her second publication, The Blue Ocean, at The International Hotel in Canary Wharf, London where His Excellency, Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, attended as Chief Launcher and His Excellency, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK attended as Special Guest of Honour.
As part of her Pro-Bono projects in the UK, since April 2013, She is a FRU Volunteer at the Free Representation Unit, providing free legal advice and advocacy to members of the community.
She won my first case on 30 April 2013. Additionally, She was a Group Leader at Big Voice London for the International Law Group which works in conjunction with the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Big Voice teaches a group of youngsters about the UK legal system and focuses on bringing the voices of young people into legal policy.
Antoinette also went to Geneva to visit the United Nations in July 2013 where the UK government was examined on its implementation of CEDAW.
In Nigeria, She had piloted the use of poetry, creative writing, reading and music workshops and seminars as development methods for students, especially for those from SS1 to SS3 with support of the teaching fraternity in Ogun State, Nigeria with three Secondary Schools in Aiyetoro, Ogun State: (1) Alaye High School (2) Community High School (3) Comprehensive High School with over 400 students. The response to the series of workshops was very encouraging. The teachers, principals and students recommended that the workshop should be delivered at other educational institutions. As a result, She has received approval from the Ministry of Education of Ogun State, Nigeria and from the Director of Education Support Services of Ogun State, Nigeria in which She is permitted to go around all Secondary Schools in Ogun State to implement the workshops. The vision is to promote a reading culture, a love for poetry, a passion for writing and inspire the children to become writers and authors themselves, thus developing the creative, artistic and publishing sector of their economy and their community. As part of her writing, her article, ‘Has the European Court of Human Rights developed a coherent and convincing approach to the issue of offensive expression?’, has been included in BPP Law School’s Human Rights Journal 2013. Moreover, She won the NUBAA 2013 Nigerian UK Based Writer Award in September 2013. The Nigerian UK Based Achievers Award (NUBAA)