Queen’s College Old Girls Pay Tribute to CJN Kekere-Ekun’s Life of Service
A proud celebration of sisterhood, legacy, and a life shaped by discipline, excellence, and service.
On behalf of the classmates and the wider community of Old Girls of Queen’s College Lagos, heartfelt birthday wishes are extended to Justice Kudirat Tokunbo Kekere-Ekun, Chief Justice of Nigeria, in celebration of a life defined by purpose, discipline and enduring impact.
Drawn from across generations—those active and retired, at home and in the diaspora—we stand united in honour of our dear sister, whose journey continues to reflect the values instilled in us during our formative years at Queen’s College: integrity, excellence, and a steadfast sense of duty.
Her rise through the ranks of the judiciary to the highest court in the land is a source of collective pride.
It affirms the enduring strength of the foundation we share and reinforces the role of Queen’s College in shaping women of substance, character, and national relevance.
We pray that Almighty God grants her continued good health, wisdom, and strength as she carries the weight of her responsibilities with grace and distinction.
May her decisions be guided by fairness, clarity, and a deep commitment to justice, always in the best interest of Nigeria and in accordance with the law.
The first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos
Former Head of Service of Lagos State
Former Secretary to the Government of Lagos State
Retired Permanent Secretary
Ogun State
Retired Professor at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos
As a role model to generations of women, to the people of Lagos State and to the nation at large, she stands as a testament to what discipline, focus, and character can achieve.
With pride in her journey and confidence in her stewardship, we celebrate her today and wish her many more years of fulfillment, impact, and service. Amen.
Princess G. A. Adebajo-Fraser MFR. Special Adviser Strategy to the Former President. First, to carry out a large trickle irrigation project in Africa.
First female in the world to preside over a popular professional male soccer club.
Hon. Justice Adedayo Akintoye. Retired Judge of the Lagos High Court.
Hon Justice Oluremi Omowunmi Oguntoyinbo. Retired Judge of the Federal High Court.
Mrs. Shade Jaji Former Head of Service, Lagos State, former Secretary to the Government of Lagos.
Bicentennial Chair of Palliative Care, University of South Bend, Indiana
Retired as Managing Director, Cardinalstone Registrars
After almost three decades of banking experience, retired at top management back home to Calabar into community work
Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu [ Retired] First female Rear Admiral in Africa.
Professor Folasade Ogunsola
The first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos
Professor Elaine Azinge
Retired Professor at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos
Mrs. Jumoke Fakiyesi. Retired Director CBN.
Alero Ayida- Otobo. Former Presidential Aide.
Fatima Wali- Abdurrahman, Special Adviser to Group President – Dangote Industry Ltd.
Mrs Dupe Olurin
Retired Permanent Secretary
Government of Ogun State
Dr Iyabo Are
Retired Permanent Secretary
Government of Lagos State
Dr Patience Adepeju Osinubi
Retired Director, Federal Ministry of Health
Mrs Margaret Asumah
Retired Director, Lagos State Ministry of Justice
Retired Director, CBN
Retired Director, Hospital Services
Federal Ministry of Health
Mrs Titilope Owolabi
Retired Director, NAFDAC
Erelu Angela Adebayo. Nigerian Ambassador to Portugal.
Dr Toyin Shonukan, Medical Oncologist (USA) and Founder and President, Yemanja Cancer Care Initiative, a US nonprofit with activities in Nigeria.
Dr Olubunmi Olutoye Banjo
Bicentennial Chair of Palliative Care, University of South Bend, Indiana
Dr Funmi Chirnside, Royal Navy U.K. [retired]
Mrs Oluwande Muoyo. IBTC Top Management [Retired]
Mrs Oluwande Muoyo was a Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State after her banking career
Dr Sade Akiode
Principal Dental Consultant and Founder,
Choice Dental Clinics
Mrs Olaitan Ojuroye retired Executive Director, Finance (and Supplies) at Nigerite Limited, Ikeja.
Other classmates:
Mrs Rita Chris- Garuba
Funmi Dele-Giwa.
Ummu Mamman Daura.
Tosin Obisesan
Ayo Soloye Ademoyero
Adejoke Kavodel-Uthman.
Aimalohi Akporiaye.
Joyce Adekoya
Sinmi Adesanya.
Mrs Juliet Archibong retired Banker, Secretary Queen’s College Old Girls class of 1974/76
Founded in 1927, Queen’s College Lagos stands as one of Nigeria’s most enduring symbols of female education, leadership grooming, and elite academic tradition.
Established during the colonial era as the first government secondary school for girls in Nigeria, the institution was designed not merely to educate, but to shape a generation of women capable of influencing governance, society, and national development.
Nearly a century on, that founding vision has not only endured—it has multiplied in impact.
From its early cohort of just a handful of students, Queen’s College has grown into a powerhouse institution with thousands of alumnae spread across Nigeria and the global stage. Its location in Lagos—Nigeria’s intellectual and innovation corridor—places it at the intersection of history and modernity, reinforcing its relevance across generations.
The numbers tell part of the story. Over 95 years of continuous operation, the college has produced an extensive network of women who have gone on to shape Nigeria’s judiciary, civil service, academia, diplomacy, business, and media. Among its alumnae are ministers, permanent secretaries, legal luminaries, corporate leaders, and cultural influencers—women who have not only broken barriers but institutionalised excellence.
But beyond statistics, Queen’s College represents something more strategic: a sustained investment in nation-building through female education. Long before gender inclusion became global policy language, the college was already executing it at scale. It created an ecosystem where discipline, intellectual rigour, and moral grounding were not optional extras, but core expectations.
Its legacy also speaks to a broader national truth—when educational institutions are built with clarity of purpose and protected over time, they become pipelines of leadership. Queen’s College is a case study in this continuity. The “Queen’s College girl” is not just a student identity; it is a brand associated with confidence, articulation, resilience, and institutional memory.
Yet, like many legacy public institutions in Nigeria, the college has faced periods of strain—ranging from infrastructure pressures to evolving academic demands in a digital age. These challenges, however, do not diminish its stature; rather, they underscore the urgency of reinvestment. If anything, institutions with this level of historical capital deserve modern upgrades that match their legacy output.
As Nigeria continues to confront questions around governance quality, leadership pipeline, and social cohesion, Queen’s College offers a quiet but powerful reminder: the answers often begin in classrooms.
Approaching its centenary, the college is not merely marking time—it is standing as proof that when you educate a girl with intention, you don’t just change a life; you shape a nation.
In essence, Queen’s College Lagos is not just a school. It is an institution of consequence.
Few institutions in Nigeria can match Queen’s College Lagos in producing outstanding women—figures who have not only excelled, but defined leadership across generations.
Gloria Ameeda Fraser. MFR.
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