Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin is the president of the rights groups Women Arise for Change Initiative and the Campaign for Democracy. She clocked 49 today and celebrated is at Ojodu Junior Grammar School, Lagos. She began her career in
activism as the Secretary of Women in Nigeria (WIN) Kwara State from 1981-1991 and the Coordinator of Women in Nigeria (WIN) Kwara State Branch (1991-1996) Chairperson, Rethink Nigeria (1987-1982) Chairperson, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Kwara State Branch (1990-1996). .
Her foray into human rights activism was at a period when the Babangida dictatorship was baring its fangs on locking up critical voices. She became one of the targets of the administration as she was arrested and detained not less than 17 times at different locations. She met her future husband, Yinka Odumakin, while in prison.
In March 2010, the United Nations Nigeria awarded here as the “Hero of Democracy and Good Governance. In August 2008, she was authorized and commissioned to serve as an Ambassador of Good Will from Arkansas to the people of the nations beyond the borders of the United States. .
In September 2010, the Priceless Jewels Initiative gave her an award as the Champion of Women Empowerment. Her consistency and unwavering determination for survival of democracy in Nigeria led Professor Wole Soyinka to describe her as follows: “I present to you a tireless fighter with inner strength and resilience, purpose; a veteran of affirmative marches, of crude arrests and detentions, baton charges and tear gas who has lent luster to the struggle for justice and human dignity, who remains an inspiration of men and women, old and young.”…… she got to the school late n was duly punished for late coming by d principal who also takes no nonsense……