Funmi Falana

{{short description|Nigerian lawyer and activist}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = Omoba | name =  | honorific_suffix = SAN | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | other_names = | alma_mater = University of Benin, University of Lagos. | occupation = Legal Practitioner | years_active = | organization = Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) | known_for = women's rights activist | notable_works = | spouse = Femi Falana | children = Falz, amongst others | parents = | website = [https://falanafalana.com.ng/teammate/funmi-falana/ FalanaFalana] }} '''Funmi Falana'''{{Audio|LL-Q34311_(yor)-Bamjos-Funmi_Falana.wav|listen}} {{small|SAN}} is a Nigerian legal practitioner and women's rights activist.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thebreakingtimes.com/another-14-year-old-lucy-ejeh-kidnapped-converted-to-islam-in-zamfara/|title=Another 14 Year Old, Lucy Ejeh, Kidnapped Converted to Islam in Zamfara|work=The Breaking Times|date=17 March 2016|accessdate=20 June 2016|archivedate=29 May 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529020756/http://www.thebreakingtimes.com/another-14-year-old-lucy-ejeh-kidnapped-converted-to-islam-in-zamfara/|url-status=deviated}}</ref>

== Personal life and education == Funmi Falana<ref>{{cite news|date=7 March 2016|title=Let's Have Gender Justice Now, By Funmi Falana|url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/opinion/123609-lets-have-gender-justice-now-by-funmi-falana.html|accessdate=20 June 2016|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> is the wife of Femi Falana, a Nigerian activist and lawyer;<ref>{{cite news|last=Ndaji|first=Simeon|date=5 August 2012|title=Femi Falana left me at the mercy of judges – Funmi, wife|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/femi-falana-left-me-at-the-mercy-of-judges-funmiwife/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|accessdate=20 June 2016|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref> and mother to Falz, a Nigerian recording artist and actor'''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Badmus|first=Kayode|date=5 November 2015|title=Falz! Why Femi Falana's son is a legally Bad Guy|url=https://thenet.ng/falz-why-femi-falanas-son-is-a-legally-bad-guy/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=20 June 2016|newspaper=The NET}}</ref>''' She was born into the Nigerian chieftaincy system, being a member of the ruling dynasty of the Iralepo of Isinkan,<ref name=crown>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvcnews.tv/ariyomo-funmi-falana-aguda-akpovie-others-receive-royal-accolades/|website=tvcnews.tv|title=Ariyomo, Funmi Falana, Aguda, Akpovie, others receive royal accolades|accessdate=February 5, 2026}}</ref> and she attended St. Louis Girls’ Grammar School, Akure, Ondo State.<ref name="punchng.com">{{Cite news|date=2020-04-12|title=How I met my husband — Funmi Falana|url=https://punchng.com/a-lawyer-is-the-best-spouse-to-have-funmi-falana/|access-date=2021-06-05|newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref> She obtained her bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Benin, and later her law degree (LL.B) at the University of Lagos. Fummi later obtained her master's degree (LL.M) from the University of Lagos as well.<ref name="Mrs. Funmi Falana">{{Cite web|title=Mrs. Funmi Falana|url=https://falanafalana.com.ng/teammate/funmi-falana/|access-date=2021-06-05|website=Falana & Falana Chambers|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024, she received a chieftaincy title from the Isinkan community.<ref name=crown/>

== Career == Funmi Falana currently serves as the National Director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), a non-governmental organization that defends the rights of women and children.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sunnewsonline.com/falana-alert-fg-of-abduction-of-another-teenager-in-zamfara/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Falana alert FG of abduction of another teenager in Zamfara|last=Olabiyi|first=Lukmon|date=5 March 2016|accessdate=20 June 2016|newspaper=The Sun}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.championnews.com.ng/women-marginalization-must-stop-funmi-falana/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Women marginalization must stop – Funmi Falana|author=Prince Joshua|date=17 March 2016|accessdate=20 June 2016|archivedate=1 May 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501205719/http://www.championnews.com.ng/women-marginalization-must-stop-funmi-falana/|url-status=deviated|newspaper=Daily Champion}}</ref> She belongs to some professional and leadership associations within and outside Nigeria; she is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association,<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_Bar_Association</ref> West African Bar Association<ref>https://achpr.au.int/en/ngos/west-african-bar-association-waba</ref> the International Bar Association,<ref>https://www.ibanet.org/</ref> and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.<ref name="Mrs. Funmi Falana"/>

== Leadership and activism == Funmi Falana in her capacity as the current National Director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA), a non-governmental organization actively participates in activism. She has led some campaigns against rape, women marginalisation and participation in politics, gender based, policy and decision-making.<ref name="punchng.com"/> Through her organisation, she challenged Regulation 124 of the Police Act which prohibited female officers from getting married until after three years of service, and the court declared the provision was unconstitutional and discriminatory against women, so it was null and void,<ref name="punchng.com"/>

In a letter dated January 28, 2021 and titled “Request To Recall Dismissed Pregnant Police Officer”, Funmi as the Chairperson of WELA asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Adamu,<ref>https://www.npf.gov.ng/news/details/618</ref> to reinstate Corporal Olajide Omotola of the Ekiti State Police Command who was dismissed for getting pregnant out of wedlock.<ref name="thenationonlineng.net">{{Cite news|date=2021-02-02|title='Reinstate dismissed pregnant police woman or face legal action'|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/reinstate-dismissed-pregnant-police-woman-or-face-legal-action/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-06-05|newspaper=The Nation|language=en-US}}</ref> She said she would challenge the dismissal of Mrs. Omotola at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) and pray for the annulment of Regulation 127 made pursuant to the Police Act, 2020 if the police authority fails to reinstate her within a reasonable time.<ref name="thenationonlineng.net"/>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Falana, Funmi}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Nigerian princesses Category:Nigerian women lawyers Category:Nigerian women's rights activists Category:Nigerian women activists Category:University of Lagos alumni Category:University of Benin (Nigeria) alumni Category:Falana family Category:Yoruba princesses