Nigerian and African politics has largely been dominated by men since the turn of independence. As brave as the attempts by several women have been in running for several political posts over the past few years, not many have received as much excitement as that of 2019 female Presidential aspirant, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies.
As a Linguist, Educationist, Poet and Communication expert, Mrs Adesanya-Davies is of the school of thought that women should be given an opportunity to rule Nigeria as the men who have ruled the country since independence have been largely underwhelming. Speaking in an interview with The Punch in early September, she was quoted saying;
Certainly, being a female aspirant is very significant in times like this, because the men have tried but failed Nigerians over the years. Besides, the millennium goals recommend that 35 percent (of elective offices) should be given to women, and the men only have ruled since independence. It’s now the turn of women to have their space after 58 years of men’s presiding over democracy…
Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies was born on 15 October 1962 in Ira, Kwara State, Nigeria, to Susan Adepoju and Isaac Salako. Her education has seen her attend St. Clare’s Grammar School, Offa, as well as Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State, in the North Central Nigeria.
She holds B.A (combined honours) in English and Yoruba at the University of Ife, Nigeria, in 1985. She obtained her master’s degree in English Language from University of Ilorin, Kwara State in 1987. She also has a doctorate degree in Linguistics and Communication which she obtained from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in 2003 with a postgraduate diploma in education (PDGE) in English education in the year 2000.
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Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies also holds a Doctor of Divinity (D.D) Degree and Professor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) Award of Northwestern Christian University, Florida, US. She was an Academic and educational consultant at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria between 2012–2015
She is an educational consultant and an associate professor of linguistics with a specialization in applied linguistics and communication. She is a former director of the Centre for Vocational Skills, Entrepreneurial and General Studies, Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. She is a linguist, educationist, poet, communication expert, advocacy and activist.
As a writer, her most notable work is The Jonathan/Sambo Presidency in Nigeria: A Symbol of Peace, Unity and Progress.
Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies is also a multiple award winner
Amongst her achievements include; Human Capital Development and Good Governance Award (2013) of The Spill Magazine, Nigeria, UN-POLAC World Peace Ambassador Award (Amb.P.) 2013, Nigeria Woman of Excellence Merit Award, (WEMA) 2014 with the theme ‘Women Inspiring Positive Change’ in commemoration of international Women’s Day (IWD), African Achievers Merit Award by The Africa Media Excludes, Accra, Ghana (2014), Great African Legacy Award by Noble Global News Magazine, Dubai, UAE (2014) , The Majesty Magazine’s Legend of Courage Award (2014), Positive Change’ in commemoration international Women’s Day (IWD) (2014), African Achievers Merit Award by The Africa Media Executives, Accra, Ghana (2014) , Great African Legacy Award by Noble Global News Magazine, Dubai, UAE, 2014, Nigeria Woman of the Year Award, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja(2014), Nelson Mandela Life of Legendary Achievement Medal Award, Dubai, UAE (2014), Kwara’s Foremost Scientists and Thinkers Award, Kwara State, Nigeria (2015) , Catholic Daouses Merit Award, Erin-Ile, Kwara State (2016), Prestigious African Icon Legacy Award Johannesburg, South Africa, 2017.
Religion is part of who Mrs Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies is. She became Born-again in 1974, where she served as chapel prefect in secondary school. She was equally Sisters Leader at University of Ife (NIFES) and during NYSC. In 1988, she founded Agape Bible Church, (Eagle’s Cathedral) at Presidential Housing Estate (Church Headquarters), as a member of the board of trustees of Christian Excellence Ministries.
This is with the aim of spreading and preaching the integrity of the Holy Bible and helping to raise the Body of Christ, in Rivers State, South/South, Nigeria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. Adesanya preaches and ministers on invitations and always represents Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); and she serves as the secretary to the Elders Council of the National Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs (Nigeria) (an Affiliate of Association of African Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs.
She is a strong political activist and critic of the President Buhari administration. In an interview with The Punch, when asked about the 2019 elections she was critical about the current situation in the country as well as President Buhari. She was quoted saying;
Nigerians are frustrated as well because of the economic downturn; additional menace created by Fulani herdsmen, evolving Muslim assailants, in addition to the Islamist Boko Haram, Buhari’s lopsided appointments, dictatorship, partial fighting of corruption, etc. I only hope that President (Muhammadu) Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission would be fair as in the past, as he tends to have been running a dictatorial government.
Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies has over one hundred national and international published articles and poems to her credit and has delivered several scholarly, professional and public lectures in Nigeria, Africa, UK, Europe, United States, Canada, etc. (within and outside Nigeria.
She is a member of; The British Association for Applied Linguistics (UK), Internationale de Linguistiquee (AILA), International Phonetics Association, UK.,, Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN) Nigeria, The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), and Teachers Registration Council (TRC) Nigeria etc.
Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies also serves as External Examiner supervising Doctoral dissertations, for the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
This article was written by Musa Sani Nadir Tochukwu
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