Folake Solanke is the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the first Nigerian female lawyer to wear the silk gown as Senior Counsel.
18 Facts About Folake Solanke
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Folake Solanke is the first Commissioner of Western State and is a former Chairperson of the Western Nigeria Television Broadcasting Corporation.
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Folake Solanke was the 42nd and the first African International President of Zonta International, an international service organization that focus primarily on advancing the status of women.
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From 1937 to 1939, Folake Solanke attended Ago Oko primary school.
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In 1949, Folake Solanke obtained the West African School Certificate, became School Prefect and Games Captain, and at the West Africa School Certificate Examinations she became the first student of the school to obtain grade one certificate.
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Folake Solanke spent a year at Queen's College, Lagos before she proceeded to Newcastle University, England, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin and Mathematics in 1954.
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In 1955, Folake Solanke received a diploma certificate in education and joined the faculty of Pipers Corner School, Great Kingshill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where she taught Latin and mathematics for 2 years.
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In 1960, Folake Solanke was admitted into Gray's Inn, London to read for a degree in law.
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In 1972, Folake Solanke was appointed the first Commissioner of Western State and chairperson of the Western Nigeria Television Broadcasting Corporation.
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In 1981, Folake Solanke became the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the first Nigerian female lawyer to wear the silk gown.
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Folake Solanke rose through the ranks of Zonta International, first serving as the District Governor for Africa and then as International Vice-President.
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In 1988,1990, and 1994, Folake Solanke ran for election to the International Presidency of the organization.
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Folake Solanke's autobiography, Reaching for the stars was published in 2007.
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Folake Solanke has received numerous awards, including the National honour of the Commander of the Order of Niger.
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In 1981, Folake Solanke was conferred with a traditional title of "Yeyemofin of Ife" by the late Olubuse II, the 50th Ooni of Ife, following her conferment with Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
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In 2012, Folake Solanke received the International Bar Association's Outstanding International Woman Lawyer Award at the Association's 5th World Women Lawyers' Conference held in London, in recognition of her professional excellence and immense contribution to the advancement of women within the legal profession.
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Also in 2012, Folake Solanke released her second book, A Compendium of Selected Lectures and Papers, Volume 1.
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On 17 January 2015 Folake Solanke was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Sun Newspaper at a ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.