Education & Certification
She holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in History (1984) and a Master of Arts (MA) degree in History (1988) from the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. In 1992, she earned another Master of Arts (MA) degree in Gender and Society from Middlesex University, United Kingdom.
Career and expertise
Adeleye-Fayemi is the founder of the Above Whispers Media Foundation and writes the “Loud Whispers” column on Above Whispers. She established the mentoring programme, The Wrapper Network, and served as a Senior Advisor to UN Women Nigeria (2017–2018). She is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Africa Leadership Centre, King’s College London. Bisi is also a storyteller, renowned for her portrayal of the Yoruba heroine, Moremi Ajasoro.
She was the Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika (1991–2001) and co-founded the African Women’s Development Fund, serving as its first CEO from 2001 to 2010. Her board roles include Trustee for Comic Relief (UK) and co-chair of the International Network of Women’s Funds.
As First Lady, Adeleye-Fayemi influenced legal and policy changes for women’s rights, campaigning for the Gender Based Violence Prohibition Law (2011, revised 2019), the Equal Opportunities Bill (2013), and several other significant laws. She chaired the Ekiti State GBV Management Committee and the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum (2019–2022), leading initiatives to combat gender-based violence.
Skills & utilisation
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi can be contacted for expertise in feminist activism, policy advocacy, social change philanthropy, mentoring programmes, gender equality initiatives, and storytelling
