Ambassador Dr Olufolake Abdulrazaq has an eclectic personality that reeks of class, sophistication and intellectual panache and recently another academic feather was added to her wings of success, the European American University which gave her a Doctorate three years ago partnered with the Entrepreneurship University to give her a Professorship in International Relations.
The warmth she exudes permeates all nooks and crannies of her environment especially the less privileged in Kwara state, that is why her NGO program Ajike People Support Centre is involved with voluntary humanitarian services.
As the First Lady of Kwara State, Her Excellency Ambassador Dr. Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq duty has expanded when her husband Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq emerged the Chairman of the Governors Forum , automatically she assumes the position of the Chairperson Nigeria Governor’s Wives Forum .
Ambassador Prof. Abdulrazaq is a diplomat, an international trade and investment expert a humanitarian and a gender and development advocate.
On the 11th of December 2020, Amb. Dr Olufolake Abdulrazaq was conferred with the title of Ambassador in-Situ After the President approved her nomination amongst others in Council and was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Amb. Prof. Abdulrazaq started her public service career in 1993 at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs where through hard work, dedication and forthrightness has served the country as Counselor, Political Affairs, Trade, Investment and Administration Nigerian High commission London (1998 – 2004), she served as Head of Chancery as well as head of trade and investment, Nigerian High Commission Pretoria (2004 – 2007). From 2007 – 2010 Dr. Abdulrazaq served as Minister Counselor at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In January 2010 she was posted to the Embassy of Nigeria, Paris where she served until February 2013.
A seasoned diplomat, Abdulraq has served the nation in various capacities, as an Assistant Director, Office of the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2014.
In 2014 she was posted to the Nigerian High commission London where she served as Minister Political and then Minister Commonwealth from 2014 – 2015, Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment 2015 – 2016, Minister/Head of consular education and welfare section March 2016 to 2017.
The political emergence of her husband Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as the Executive Governor of Kwara State presented an avenue for her to broaden her humanitarian work through her office as the first lady and her personal initiative called Ajike People’s Support center where through a well thought out strategy and an all-inclusive selection process she hopes to reach even indigent people in the society.
She is a woman who genuinely derives pleasure in serving her people, Amb. Dr Prof. Mrs Abdulrazaq has at different times served as member of various high level Government committees and has taken part in many International and Local conferences, summits and seminars. She has led advocacies and influenced implementation of policies and programmes that directly affects women, youths and children, Amb. Abdulrazaq was appointed by the former First Lady of Nigeria Dr Aisha Buhari as a TB champion, she is Matron of National Council of Women Societies, she is the Matron of Kwara State Drug Control Committee, champion of the roll out of the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme, champion of roll back malaria. A lover of family, sports and all creative endeavours Olufolake Abdulrazaq is the Vice president of the Nigerian Base Ball and Soft ball Association to mention but a few.
Her knowledgeable horizon is richly vast, she is equally well traveled and has attended conferences and summits all over the world and this includes the International Maritime Organization council 1998. Commonwealth Board of Governors meeting 2015. Hellenic Trade Mission to Nigeria, Lagos 2018. Nigeria International Petroleum Summit, Abuja, 2019. United Nations General Assembly held in New York, 2014 and attended a meeting with the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry. Annual Investment Meeting held at the World Trade Center in Dubai with Mr. President in attendance, April 2019. World Economic Forum in Jordan with Mr. President in attendance, April 2019. Nigeria France Business Investment Forum in Abuja, attended by the Vice President.
Her amiable mien and logical appraisal of issues and events has endeared her to many organizations who over the years have bestowed on her different honors, awards and recognition they includes, Award Recipient for Women and Youth Development, Center for Ilorin Studies (CILS) University of Ilorin. Member, Body of Eminent Personalities, Center for Ilorin Studies (CILS) University of Ilorin Ilorin Nigeria.Daily Independent Newspaper North Central First Lady of the year and First Lady of the year in Economic Empowerment on October 13th 2021. African Peace Magazine: African Peace Legend Award and Outstanding Contribution to the Equality for women Movement and Self Empowerment Award on November 11th 2021. Most Outstanding State TB Champion of the year by the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria on 11th November 2021.
Ambassador Abdulrazaq is also the National Vice President Nigeria Base Ball and Soft Ball Association, President of District 03 Nigeria Little League which comprises the six North central States and the F C T.
Matron of the African Fashion Week, Ambassador Abdulrazaq is a recipient of the Rotary Humanitarian Service Award, Matron of the National Council for Women Societies Kwara State, Matron of the Ilorin Golf Club, Matron of Girls Guide, Matron of the Girls Brigade Kwara State.
This beautiful paragon amongst women who have carved a niche in her profession as a career diplomat is a Lagosian, she was born in the city of Lagos south west Nigeria. Her educational journey began in Lagos too, Amb. Abdulrazaq was admitted into the University of Lagos where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in History in 1988 after which she proceeded for her one year mandatory National Youth Service Corp at the 1st Mechanized Infantry Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna from 1988 to 1989.
In 1990 she bagged a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication before she proceeded to acquire a master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy in 1991 all at the prestigious University of Lagos. On the 5th of October 2019, Olufolake Abdulrazaq was conferred with Doctor of science Honoris Causa (DSC Hons) in Excellent Governance and social empowerment by the European American University. The Geofidel Institute for Leadership and Management, London, United Kingdom in recognition of her contributions to gender development honoured Dr Abdulrazaq with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Gender Development (DGD) in December 2020.
Also the Prowess University, Delaware United States of America conferred on her Honourary Doctor of Philosophy in Social Policy and Administration in September 2022.
Ambassador Dr. Prof. Mrs Abdulrazaq in a recent exclusive interview she granted Thisday style where she talked about the inseparable bond with her late sister. In the past of them were known for birthday shoots , they were practically like twin , they did everything together and one wonders how she manages the grief of losing her beloved sister, she did dedicate the interview to her late sister Oluseun Davies- Babatunde and never ceases to celebrate her birthday and a memorial on date of her demise every year. The fond memories they share is magnetic to her memories also because their birthdays was close just 4 days apart. It is blatantly obvious that she will forever cherish the sweet memories they share as siblings .
One of her famous quote is ‘’Success, to me, is fundamentally being fulfilled. This may mean so many different things to so many different people.’’ Ambassador professor Dr Mrs Olufolake Abdulrazaq is no doubt a phenomenal successful woman who has also emerged who in a private but public life is amiable and humble, above all she is adored by the people of Kwara state.
Another conspicuous signature of her personality is her sophisticated, classy and glamorous fashion disposition, she is obviously one of the most stylish first ladies in the country with a stamp of elegance. Ambassador Prof. Abdulraq magnetic charismatic personality never ceases to cause a traffic stare at any function she attends, she is sweetly approachable.
She is a lover of family, children, sports and all creative endeavours, she has in many ways impacted the lives of the indigent and less privileged in the society.
Her Excellency the First Lady of Kwara State also holds the Traditional titles of Yeye Aare Soludero of Offa in Kwara State, the Sarauniya of Kaiama in Kwara State, the Labinjo of Eti oni in Osun State and the Erelu of Ilado and Inagbe Islands in Lagos State, Yeye Atayero of Obbo Aiyegunle,
Yeye Atunluse of Esie Land, Yeye Akorede of Oro Kingdom and Yeye Atunluse of Isin Land.
