The first black African woman to earn a degree from Oxford University, Lady Kofoworola Ademola forged a path in education, leadership, and advocacy. She became the first Nigerian graduate teacher at Queen’s College. Her commitment to education extended to policy work as a member of the Nigerian Scholarship Board.

As the first president of the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), she worked to unite women across social classes, promoting collective welfare and better working conditions, particularly for market women. Under her leadership, the organisation pushed for childcare facilities to support working mothers, recognising the barriers women faced in balancing work and family responsibilities.

Beyond activism, she wrote children’s books, seeing education as a lifelong pursuit that began with storytelling.