Victoria Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire

Victoria Adejoke Adefulire (née Orelope) (born 29 September 1959) is a Nigerian politician. She served as deputy governor of Lagos State from 2011 to 2015. Prior to that, she was the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Lagos State from 2003 to 2011.

On 7 March 2016, Femi Adesina, the special adviser to the president, Media and Publicity announced President Muhammadu Buhari's appointment of the former Lagos deputy governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, as his Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals.

Education She attended Salvation Army Primary School, Agege, Lagos (1965–1971), and she finished her secondary school education from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Mangoro, in Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State. She is an alumna of Lagos State University (LASU) and was awarded an honorary degree by the university. She has a bachelor's degree in sociology and a diploma in social works.

Personal life Victoria Adejoke Orelope is a Christian, born into the royal lineage of Prince Kareem-Laka of Akeja Oniyanru and Amore Ruling House in Egbeda, Alimosho, Lagos State. She is the first girl and the third born out 13 children. Orelope-Adefuire is popularly called 'Iya Alanu' which means 'cheerful giver'. She worked at the Front Office Executive at PZ Industries, Nigeria PLC.

Achievements

She got the Daisey George Award in 2010. She was recognised for her efforts in empowering and advocating rights of women and children.

Career She is an administrator, social worker, politician and princess from a royal family. By the start of her career in politics, she was elected into the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent Alimosho Constituency I, where she was subsequently elected as the Chairman, House Service Committee. In the year 2002, she was appointed as the Electoral Commissioner at the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commissioner.

From 2003-2007, she was appointed Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and was subsequently appointed to same position between 2007 and 2011. By 2011, she was elected the Deputy Governor of Lagos State and occupied the position till the end of the administration of His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola in 2015. The President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire as his Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals. She was also reappointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 14 September 2023 as his Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As a grassroot politician, she is The All Progressive Congress Political Apex Leader of the Alimosho Federal Constituency. She is also a prominent member of the Lagos State Governor's Advisory Council (GAC). The GAC is the highest profile of political decision making body of the Lagos State Government.