African Philanthropy Conference honours Bisi Fayemi with Lifetime Achievement Award

Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, has been honoured with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award by the African Philanthropy Conference, in recognition of her decades-long contributions to women’s rights, youth development, and philanthropic leadership across Africa.

The award was presented on Tuesday evening at a special ceremony held at Nile Plaza, bringing together conference delegates and dignitaries to celebrate Adeleye-Fayemi’s legacy in feminist activism, institutional building, and social impact.

Adeleye-Fayemi was lauded for her pioneering work with Akina Mama wa Afrika, where she served as Executive Director from 1991 to 2001. During her tenure, she established the African Women’s Leadership Institute, through which over 6,000 emerging women leaders have been mentored.

She was also celebrated for co-founding the African Women’s Development Fund in 2001 and serving as its first Chief Executive Officer. Under her leadership, the Fund supported grassroots organisations in 42 countries and grew into one of the leading philanthropic institutions advancing women’s empowerment in Africa.

As First Lady of Ekiti State, Adeleye-Fayemi championed gender-responsive policies between 2010 and 2014, and again from 2018 to 2022. She led the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum and played a key role in declaring a State of Emergency on gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her broader work includes founding the Above Whispers Media Foundation and The Wrapper Network, an online platform that mentors over 4,000 young women. She is also a prolific writer, known for her column “Loud Whispers”, which appears in major publications.

Adeleye-Fayemi holds advanced degrees in History and Gender & Society from Obafemi Awolowo University and Middlesex University, and currently serves on several high-level boards, including the African Women Leaders Network and the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School.

Describing her as a “seed sower,” the conference organisers praised Adeleye-Fayemi for her lasting impact on feminist leadership, advocacy, and philanthropy in Africa. The Lifetime Achievement Award, they said, is a testament to her unwavering commitment to social justice and gender equity.