Ado-Ekiti — Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, has made the list of the world's 100 leading women rights crusaders.

Four other Nigerians were named on the "Women Deliver 100: The Most Inspiring People Delivering for Girls and Women" list. They included the former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Executive Director of Positive Action for Treatment Access, Ms Rolake Odetoyinbo: Director, Centre for Clinical Cancer Genetics at the University of Chicago, Prof Olufunmilayo Olopade and Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on MDGs and Chair of Advocacy Nigeria, Saudatu Sani.

A statement by Mrs. Fayemi's special assistant on Media, Olayinka Oyebode, said the honour was in recognition of her support for women leadership across Africa.

Also on the list which was posted on the World Bank's website (www.worldbank.org) on Wednesday in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, are United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton and renowned journalist, Chritiane Amanpour.

The list also include wife of former US President, Laura Bush, Queen Rania Alabdullah of Jordan, Former Chilean President and Executive Director of UN Women, Dr Michelle Bachelet: Founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai and screen diva, Oprah Winfrey.

The New Africa Magazine named Mrs Fayemi in April 2009 as one of the 20 most influential African women on the continent.

The Ekiti State First Lady has served as a resource person to United Nations (UN) agencies including UNIFEM, UNDP, UN/ECA (Addis Ababa) and several other regional and international bodies. She is currently an Adviser to Global Fund for Women (USA), and an Editorial Board Member of Alliance Magazine (UK).

In 2000, Fayemi co-founded AWDF, the first Africa-wide grant-making fund, which supports the work of organisations promoting women's rights in Africa. Since it began grant making in 2001, AWDF has supported over 800 women's organisations in 42 African countries with over U$16m in grants.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201103140973.html