Folake Solanke

Law career Upon her return to Nigeria in August 1962, while teaching Latin and Mathematics at Yejide Girls Grammar School in Ibadan, Oyo.

In 1981, Solanke became the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the first Nigerian female lawyer to wear the silk gown.

Solanke rose through the ranks of Zonta International, first serving as the District Governor for Africa and then as International Vice-President. In 1988, 1990, and 1994, Solanke ran for election to the International Presidency of the organization (she did not run in 1992). She lost the first two times, but won the third time, being elected in Hong Kong on 21 July 1994 as the 42nd International President, the first non–caucasian, African president of the organization since its establishment in 1919.

In 1981, Solanke was conferred with a traditional title as the Yeyemofin of Ife by the late Olubuse II, the 50th Ooni of Ife, following her conferment with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

In 2012, Solanke received the International Bar Association's Outstanding International Woman Lawyer Award at the Association's 5th World Women Lawyers’ Conference Also in 2012, Solanke released her second book, A Compendium of Selected Lectures and Papers, Volume 1.

On 17 January 2015 Solanke was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Sun Newspaper at a ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.