After studying at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Zaria, Joy Nwanyelimaka Nsolo earned her architectural qualification from the University of Birmingham in the early 1960s and became an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. On her return to Nigeria, she joined the civil service of Mid-Western Nigeria, rising to the positions of chief architect and later, permanent secretary.

Nsolo's notable projects include the Secretariat Building and the State High Court in Benin City, which became a model for high court complexes across the country.