Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin

Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin
Born (1966-07-04) July 4, 1966
Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
Nationality Nigerian
Occupation Women's rights activist

Josephine "Joe" Obiajulu Okei-Odumakin is a Nigerian women's rights activist. She is the president of the rights groups Women Arise for Change Initiative and the Campaign for Democracy.

Background

Odumakin was born in Zaria, Kaduna on 4 July 1966 and grew up in a Roman Catholic household.[1] She received a bachelor's degree in English Education in 1987, followed by a master's in Guidance and Counseling and doctorate in History and Policy of Education from the University of Ilorin. She has frequently been arrested for her activism, detained 17 times during the military rule of Ibrahim Babangida [2]

She was involved with over 2,000 cases where a woman's rights had been disregarded. The cases included extrajudicial killings of women or their husbands by the police. The rights of their children were also ignored by the Nigerian school or even hospital authorities.[3]

In 2013, Odumakin was presented an International Women of Courage Award from the United States Department of State.[4] The award was made by Michelle Obama and John Kerry at the US State Department's Dean Acheson Auditorium in celebration of International Women's Day.[3]

Being the Executive Director, Institute of Human Rights & Democratic Studies; Founding President, Women Arise for Change Initiative; Chairman, Task Force of the Citizen Forum; President, Centre for Change in Community Development & Public Awareness; President, Centre for Participatory Democracy; and Spokesperson for the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria, she is also recognised as a couragious fighter whose consistent challenge against human rights abuses has exposed her to harrowing experiences under the most repressive regimes Nigeria has ever witnessed.[5]

She is Married to Comrade Yinka Odunmakin.

References

  1. ↑ Dapo Akinrefon; Charles Kumolo (April 13, 2013). "17 times in detention, Joe Okei-Odumakin opens up: I met my husband in prison". Vanguard. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  2. ↑ DAPO AKINREFON & CHARLES KUMOLU. "17 times in detention, Joe Okei-Odumakin opens up: I met my husband in prison". Vanguard. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 Woman of Courage Award, 11 March 2013, Retrieved 3 February 2016
  4. ↑ "2013 International Women of Courage Award Winners". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Hallmarks of Labour foundation. "DR. JOSEPHINE OBIAJULU OKEI-ODUMAKIN". Hallmarks of Labour foundation. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
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