Her Excellency Hon Adejoke Victoria Orelope Adefuluire At 65

Princess Joke Orelope Adefuilure began her Political career during the third republic, when she was elected as a *member* of Lagos state House of Assembly (January 1992-November 1993) to represent Alimosho constituency 01. By this she became the first female lawmaker in Lagos State.

In 2001, she was appointed an Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State Independent National Electoral Commission, a position she held until 2003.

Hon Joke Orelope Adefuluire has initiated and led the implementation of a number of strategic interventions, including Women and Youths’ Economic Empowerment programmes, Mother and Child Hospitals, construction and rehabilitation of schools and vocational skills centres amongst others. In the course of her career, she has received several awards locally and internationally, including the conferment of the national honour of the Officer order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2022 as well as the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award in 2023. She is also a recipient of the United Nations SDGs Champions award for her exceptional leadership in the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria. She was awarded the international public servant in 2007 by the Scottish widows- a UK based Non- Governmental Organization and bagged the Lagos State Person of the year award in 2009. She received the Daisey George award 2010 in the USA, as an advocate of children’s protection and development in 2018. She was honoured by the International Women’s Society (IWS) in recognition of her efforts at empowering and defending the rights of women, youth and children. Similar in recognition of her contributions towards the attainment of SDGs 8 and 10 in Nigeria.

She was inducted as a fellow of Global membership platform of Association of Business Executives (ABE) United Kingdom in May 2019.

She is also a recipient of the Guinness World Records for the most children reading aloud with an adult at a single location, which she achieved while reading with 4,222 school children in 2011.
Hon Princess Adejoke Orelope Adefuluire holds an Honorary Doctor of Arts (Poverty Alleviation and Technology Incubation) from the Lagos State University (LASU). She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree BSc (Hons) in Sociology and Diploma in Social Work.
She was a Lagos State Commissioner for Women and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) till 2011.

She was also the Lagos State *Deputy Governor to His Excellency* Babatunde Raji Fashola from 2011-2015.

Also, she has been a Senior Special Assistant on SDGs to the Nigeria President since 2015 till date. A Member of Governance Advisory Council (GAC).
In September 2024, she was given an award of Prestigious Woman of the Year from COWLSO.