Former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons Prof Joy Ezeilo has been named in the BBC 100 Women 2022 list.
The emeritus dean of law at the University of Nigeria is a founding director of the Women Aid Collective (WACOL), which in the last 25 years has provided free legal aid and shelter to 60,000 vulnerable women in Nigeria. She also founded the Tamar Sexual Assault Referral Centre to provide a rapid response to victims and survivors of abuse.
She was nominated by 2021 100 Women laureate, Chimamanda Adichie.
“Professor Ezeilo has impacted many lives through the provision of free legal aid to the poor, especially to women and girls whose human rights have been violated,” said Chimamanda.
The other Nigerian on the list is the co-founder of ElectHER Ibijoke Faborode.
Her organisation works to bridge inequality gaps in political representation and has engaged more than 2,000 women in politics across Africa. With the #Agender35 campaign, her organisation is directly backing 35 women running for local or federal office in the 2023 general election, providing human and financial resources.
She is also behind the first African feminist mobile app for election data analysis.
The BBC revealed its list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2022 on Tuesday.
Among them are global music phenomenon Billie Eilish, Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska, actresses Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Selma Blair, the ‘tsarina of Russian pop’ Alla Pugacheva, Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, record-breaking triple jump athlete Yulimar Rojas, and Ghanaian author Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah.
“For the first time this year, we have also asked previous 100 Women to nominate others who they felt deserved a place on the 2022 list,” the BBC said.
