Naomi Kadhamba and Wilmer Oneko being awarded/HANDOUT
Africa Nazarene University (ANU) School of Law has once again demonstrated its authority on the continental stage, winning the prestigious Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Human Rights Moot Court Competition in Banjul, Gambia, on December 10.
The annual Moot Court Competition organised by the National Human Rights Commission brought together the two finalists to debate the theme: “Climate Change and Human Rights in Africa”, with both teams delivering compelling arguments before a distinguished panel of judges led by Hon. Patrick Gomez.
The grand finale, held at the SDKJ International Conference Centre, coincided with International Human Rights Day, underscoring the significance of a competition designed to inspire young legal minds.
The winning team, Naomi Kathamba and Wilma Oneko, emerged victorious after an intense week of written and oral rounds that brought together 23 teams from across Africa.
Naomi Kadhamba receiving gifts during the award ceremony/HANDOUT
In the final round, ANU faced the University of Benin (Nigeria), one of Africa’s strongest debating institutions, and delivered a commanding performance to lift the continental title.
Their outstanding advocacy earned them further recognition: Naomi Kathamba was named Best Orator of the competition; the team received USD 1,813.93; Naomi earned an additional USD 728.32 for her oratory award; and both students secured fully paid six-month internships with the National Human Rights Commission of Gambia.
In addition, winners of the Supreme Court rounds earned internships with the Supreme Court of Gambia, providing new opportunities for international legal exposure.
Leaders Celebrate ANU’s Triumph
Prof. Lois Musikali, Dean of the School of Law, praised the students’ commitment and resilience.
“Congratulations are in order. It has been a good semester. Naomi and Wilma have represented ANU with excellence and discipline,” she said.
Prof. Simon Obwatho, Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic & Student Affairs, commended the team for raising the institution’s profile.
“We are proud of the School of Law. You have consistently kept us visible as a university, both nationally and internationally,” he said.
A Year of Extraordinary Wins for ANU School of Law
The victory in Gambia crowns one of the university’s most successful years in moot court competitions, with ANU dominating both national and international stages.
Wilmer Oneko making her submission during the competition/ HANDOUTSome of the notable achievements in 2024–2025 include:
i. Supreme Court Moot Competition (Kenya): ANU was Best Overall Team, with students Cyrus Kariuki, Nereah Akinyi, and James Kenyakisa earning top honours.
ii. Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Human Rights Moot (Africa): ANU reached the finals and won the 2025 edition in Gambia.
iii. Daystar Media Moot Court Competition: ANU teams placed firmly, with Team Two emerging 1st Runners-Up and winning Best Applicant Memorial, while Team One reached the quarter-finals and won Best Respondent Memorial.
iv. Justice Aluoch Mediation Moot, ICJ Mock Debates, NSCA Arbitration Moot, Natural Justice Moot, Great Lakes Armed Conflict Moot, Jessup International Rounds, and many others, where ANU students consistently reached semi-finals, finals, or won special awards.
This consistent performance reflects the university’s investment in practical legal training, research, and mentorship, positioning ANU as one of East Africa’s leading institutions for moot court excellence.
Raising the Bar for Legal Education in Africa
The ANU School of Law continues to cement its place as a powerhouse in producing young, confident, and globally competitive legal minds.
With multiple victories and students securing prestigious international internships, the university’s moot court programme remains a model for nurturing legal advocacy and human rights expertise across the continent.
Naomi Kadhamba making her submission during the final/HANDOUT
The writer is a media trainer and a lecturer in Mass Communication at the Africa Nazarene University.
