Hilda Adefarasin
Born(1925-01-09)9 January 1925
Lagos, British Nigeria
Died5 February 2023(2023-02-05) (aged 98)
OccupationNurse
SpouseHon Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin (w. 1989)
Children5 including Paul Adefarasin

Hilda Adefarasin (9 January 1925[1] – 5 February 2023) was a Nigerian women's rights activist who was the president of the National Council of Women's Societies (NCWS). She left her nursing profession in 1969 to concentrate on professional activities of the NCWS. In 1971, she was the council's treasurer and in 1987, she became the president.

Early life

Hilda Adefarasin was born in Lagos to the family of Wilford and Ethel Petgrave in 1925.[2] Her father, who was born in Jamaica, worked with the Nigerian Railway in Lagos and her mother (née Ambleston) was born in Antigua.[3] Adefarasin attended CMS Girls' School Lagos. She also attended Achimota College, Ghana. In 1945, she became pupil-midwife with Massey Street Hospital[4] but in 1948, she traveled to England, where she qualified as a registered nurse in 1951. In 1960, she was a founding member and secretary of the Professional Association of Trained Nurses of Nigeria and soon joined the National Council of Women's Societies as a representative of nurses. In 1971, she became the council's treasurer, holding that position until 1980. In 1984, Adefarasin succeeded Justice Nzeako as president of NCWS. Her selection continued a string of educated elite women presidents of NCWS. Adefarasin felt the forum was an association of varied women with diverse professional interests who create awareness for women's recognition in national life and nation building. The NCWS during her tenure promoted an Expanded Programme on Immunization and operational theatres for young girls with vesico vaginal fistula.[5]

Adefarasin was one out of two women who were nominated by president Ibrahim Babangida as members of the 1986 Political Bureau.

Personal life and death

Adefarasin was married to Hon. Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin. She is the mother of Wale Adefarasin, Adebola Adefarasin, Yinka Ogundipe, Michael Adeyemi Adefarasin and Paul Adefarasin. She celebrated her ninetieth birthday on 1 November 2015.[6]

Adefarasin died on 5 February 2023, at the age of 98.[7][8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Pastor Adefarasin Eulogizes Mother as She Marks 97th Birthday | Photos".
  2. ↑ Dipo Ajayi (26 August 2008). This I Believe: The Philosophies and Personal Histories of 24 Eminent Nigerian Achievers. Prestige Associates [Indiana University]. p. 1. ISBN 978-9-780-6221-45.
  3. ↑ "The Boardmans bury mother in style". The Nation. Lagos. 20 January 2007.
  4. ↑ Ige, titilayo (26 November 2014). "ADEFARASIN, Hilda". notablenigerians.com.
  5. ↑ Amadiume, Ifi (2000). Daughters of the Goddess, Daughters of Imperialism: African Women Struggle for Culture, Power and Democracy. Zed Books. pp. 54–55.
  6. ↑ "Pastor Adeboye Officiates in Pastor Paul Adefarasins Mothers 90th birthday Thanksgiving". The Trent Online.
  7. ↑ "Pastor Paul Mourns Passing Of 98yr-Old Mum, Hilda Adefarasin". Independent.ng. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "JUST IN: Pastor Paul Mourns Passing Of 98yr-Old Mum, Hilda Adefarasin – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Pastors Wale, Paul Adefarasin lose mother at 98". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.