Erelu: Diamonds Are Forever!

Happy 60th birthday to a woman who challenges me to aspire to be the best. She is the quintessential model of a complete woman; feminine, firm, funky, fun, friendly, fastidious, smart, wise, warm, and kind.

Erelu is a world renowned philanthropist and gender specialist; supportive wife and mother; loyal and dependable friend; community organizer par excellence; bold, articulate, generous, an Omoluabi in every sense of the word.

Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a support system all by herself! She encourages you to aspire and then gets into the ring with you so you can achieve your goal. Her capacity to multitask without dropping the ball is worthy of study. She brings grace to her responsibilities such that everything around her seems effortless.

She is a social crusader par excellence, Erelu inspires people like me to seek the common good, speak for the voiceless and influence policy to protect the vulnerable.

To Erelu, you are a person, not a statistic. She knows you, is there for you and looks out for you, irrespective of your class in life. Her heart is massive…capacity to forgive amazing. Her faith in God is palpable. She is passionate about lifting up the African woman. She walks the talk, leading from the front.

I could go on, but since there will be so many versions of who Erelu is to so many people as she hits diamond, let me just say, it’s a great honor to call this beautiful soul my sister, my friend, my leader and my senior colleague (yes, she is also a communications specialist, a policy expert, an author and an entrepreneur!)

I celebrate a pride of Nigeria, a class act in womanhood and an MVP of Ekiti State!

Happy Diamond birthday, Erelu of the Universe!

Sola Salako Ajulo
Federal Commissioner &
Member (Southwest)
Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, Abuja, Nigeria