By Mary Nnah
Dr Siju Iluyomade, a lawyer, philanthropist, speaker, businesswoman, author, and global advocate for women and girls, will celebrate her 60th birthday on Sunday, January 8 in Lagos.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985, Iluyomade who has been in active legal practice since then, is a Partner in the Law firm of Iluyomade & Iluyomade & Co., Legal Practitioners focusing on Corporate Law, International Trade and Finance and Construction Law, Energy Law, Insolvency Government Relations and International – Joint Ventures.
She has practised Law in several Courts in Nigeria including the Supreme Court of Nigeria and she is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as well as the International Bar Association (IBA).
Having seen firsthand that empowering women and girls can transform the health and prosperity of families, communities, and nations, Iluyomade through her two main initiatives – Arise Women and The Handmaidens Women In Leadership Series (HWIS), she has become a role model for kindness while simultaneously putting the human capital to work for economic growth.
Iluyomade is on the cutting edge of women’s overall well-being and empowerment.
She is passionate, purpose-driven, a catalyst for change, and a vessel of transformation. No wonder her initiatives in a short period have attracted considerable support from leading women to come together to make progress towards achieving the 12 pillars of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals: No poverty; zero hunger, good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality, clean water and sanitation; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; life on land and lastly, partnership for the goals.
The vision of ARISE is abridged into six key areas of Influence: Health. Education; empowerment, leadership & mentorship, social and arts.
Her interventions illustrate long-term growth that has contributed to various social outcomes such as good leadership, education, healthcare delivery and economic prosperity. In everything she does, she remains focused on creating sustainable communities for the future.
The ARISE foundation speaks about sustainability through ARISE Walk For Life; ARISE Mobile Clinics; ARISE Adopt-a-Village Project; ARISE Goes To School Programme; Arise Vaccination Centre; ARISE Farmers Foundation; ARISE Skills Acquisition Academy; ARISE Women’s Conference and ARISE Community Insurance Scheme.
Iluyomade sits as the Chairman and Director of many companies including Visible Oil Limited, Visible Energy Services Limited, the Healing Stripes Hospital and the RiverBank School, to mention a few.
She has spoken at various leadership, empowerment, sustainability, health and gender equality conferences nationally and across continents.
She is also a major advocate for gender equality and children’s rights in Nigeria. She speaks up for the rights of women and believes that gone are the days of voiceless women.
The renowned lawyer collaborates with wives of top state functionaries and military service chiefs, who are women of great influence and other women bodies including the Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), International Women Society
(IWS) and Market Women Associations.
She is a woman of faith and co-pastors with her husband, Idowu Iluyomade, and they are blessed with children.
Mrs Iluyomade is widely travelled and has visited several countries on all the continents of the world. She has also written several books, mostly Christian literature, to edify and inspire the children of God.
She has received several awards in recognition of her numerous contributions to society at large.
