Adeola Oluwashola Keshinro (fondly called Shola) was born on the 12 June 1982 to 03 September 2024 to late Mr. Alfred Olushola & Mrs. Stella Olaitan Keshinro in Lagos Nigeria. She was the fourth child of five children. She grew up with her four sisters namely: Funmilayo Keshinro-Olakanmi, Ademidun Keshinro-Esomojumi, Kemi Akin-Olamiti and Eyitayo Keshinro.

She attended University of Lagos Staff School for her Primary Education from 1986 to 1992, where she was known as an exceptional student and thereafter proceeded to Federal Government Girls College, Shagamu for her secondary school education from 1993 to 1999 with excellent results from her Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).

Then, she gained admission into Obafemi Awolowo University at Ile Ife in the year 2000, where she studied law, participated actively in the faculty as Secretary and Treasurer of the Law Students Society and Justice Chambers respectively, before graduating with a second-Class Upper Division (Hons) in 2006 and won an award for the Most Diligent Member of the Executive Members of the Law Students’ Society 2003/2004 – Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

Thereafter, she proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in 2007, emerging with first class and the best graduating student in her set, carting home practically all the prizes in that academic year, such as:

• Sir Darnley Alexander Prize for the Third Best Student in Legal Drafting and Conveyancing in the August 2007 Bar Final Examinations – Nigerian Law School
• National Association of Women Judges Prize for the Best Female Student of the Year in the August 2007 Bar Final Examinations – Nigerian Law School
• Sir Adetokunbo Ademola Prize for the Best Student of the Year in the August 2007 Bar Final Examinations – Nigerian Law School
• Justice Atanda Fatai-Williams Prize for the Best Student of the Year in the August 2007 Bar Final Examinations – Nigerian Law School
• Dr. Taslim Elias Prize for the Best Overall Performance (1st Prize) in the August 2007 Bar Final Examinations – Nigerian Law School
• Justice Mohammed Bello Prize for the Best Overall Performance in the August 2007 Bar Final Examinations – Nigerian Law School
• Council of Legal Education Star Prize in the August 2007 Bar Final Examinations – Nigerian Law School

Shola joined Synergy Attornies during her Youth Corps year in November 2007, but was accepted from day one with advanced option to be retained at her election, after her service year due to her excellent records. She took the option and converted to full time junior associate on executive track in 2008.

In 2009, she became an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and also became a Graduate member of The Chartered Governance Institute of UK & Ireland as well as a Graduate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) in 2010.

In 2013, whilst still working at Synergy Attornies, she completed her Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Commercial and Corporate Law with honors from the Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom.

She grew rapidly to become the Practice Administrator in the firm, where she shared overall management of the firm with her principal, Mr. A.J. Owonikoko SAN. As a model associate, all hires in the firm after her promotion to senior associate, passed through her scrutiny as she became the standard to match by new entrants.

She directly mentored many junior colleagues and paralegal staff leading to every willing and capable paralegal able to take advantage of the firm’s fully funded scholarship to pursue university education either on part-time or in deserving cases on fulltime basis, which she did up until her death in September 2024.

At the dot of ten in the firm, in 2017, she was offered partnership by the principal as she was an exemplary advocate and an unassuming legal wizard in her own right. Her intelligence, too often testified to by her peers, noticed and often commended by judges and even more by senior advocates with or against whom she sparred in court rooms was almost like a folklore – but very true indeed.

Ever so shy to take credit for her excellent work, in and out of court room and in client management, her endearing. gentle, civil and calmness of mien were hard to miss among colleagues – young and old. She packed a mighty punch in her slight frame, what she lacked in frame was compensated for by the elephantine output of her brain.

Shola enjoyed reading, writing poems and when she was not reading, she enjoyed listening to audio books in her car, on her phone or laptop. When she was not doing any of the above listed, she was impacting her knowledge on people through conversations or sending softcopy and audio books to friends, colleagues and mentees and also referring deserving staff for trainings to enhance their professional growth.

Shola was a Philanthropist who lived a minimalist life, and only spending on her personal growth and development by enrolling in trainings, buying books, helping the widows and less-privileged in her own little way and spoiling her nephews and nieces. Her favorite color was Black and White. Her favorite food was yam.

She was a gentle, kind, highly disciplined and principled lady who loved fiercely and was completely honest and loyal. She saw herself as a servant and was never tired to serve in any capacity. She was never late for any engagement, whether professional or personal. She was always early. She was an exceptional manager of time and resources, a rarest human value proposition.

Shola gave of herself to family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and anyone she came in contact with. She never failed to help anyone in her capacity, be it professionally or personally. She will be more than very sorely missed.