Biographies: Josephine "Joe" Obiajulu Okei - Actor

Biographies

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A Nigerian women's rights activist and head of the Women Arise for Change Initiative. She was born in Zaria, Nigeria. She graduated from the University of Ilorin with a bachelor's degree in English language instruction in 1987, a master's degree in guidance and counseling, and a doctorate in education history and policy. As a result of her advocacy, Odumakin has been arrested several times. Throughout Ibrahim Babangida's military regime, she was arrested 17 times. She has voiced her opposition to over 2,000 instances where women's rights have been violated, including police killings of women or their spouses. The United States Department of State awarded her the International Women of Courage Award in 2013. She has served as executive director of the Institute for Human Rights and Democratic Studies, president of the Center for Change in Community Development and Public Awareness, head of the Center for Participatory Democracy, and spokesperson for the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria. She is also known as a fighter against human rights violations.