Held at the Faculty of Law Auditorium on the Faraba Campus, the selection exercise brought together aspiring advocates from all levels of the law programme, including first, second, third and fourth-year students.
The competition was presided over by practising lawyers who volunteered as judges and ensured that the selection process adhered to the highest standards of fairness, professionalism and competitiveness.
After a series of rigorous legal arguments and advocacy presentations, Ajie Oumie Sonko and Zeanpierre Wilna Kundeh emerged as the two most outstanding participants and were subsequently selected to represent UTG at the prestigious annual competition.
The Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Moot Court Competition is organised annually by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in partnership with the Faculty of Law of the University of The Gambia. Named after The Gambia's first president, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the competition honours his legacy as a champion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Over the years, the competition has attracted participation from leading universities across Africa, including the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Calabar, the University of Benin, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the University of Rwanda and Africa Nazarene University.
The moot court competition provides law students with a unique platform to showcase and refine their skills in legal advocacy, research and legal writing. Participants are required to analyse fictional cases based on real-life issues, particularly those involving human rights, constitutional law and international law, and present arguments either for the prosecution or defence before a panel of judges.
Beyond oral advocacy, the competition places significant emphasis on legal research, analytical reasoning and the clarity of written and oral presentations.
In a statement, the Law Students' Association congratulated the successful candidates and expressed confidence in their ability to represent the University with distinction.
As preparations intensify for the competition, the association said it remains optimistic that UTG's representatives will make a strong impression and compete for top honours at this year's Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Moot Court Competition.
