Gov Mbah, Ezekwesili, Others Eulogise Prof Ezeilo At 60

Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has described a legal scholar and human rights activist, Prof Joy Ezeilo (SAN) as an “icon whose life reflects courage and service.”

Governor Mbah paid the tribute at the 60th birthday celebration of the renowned legal scholar and human rights activist, in Enugu on Friday.

He noted that her work as a former United Nations special rapporteur on trafficking in persons and her role in founding the Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), which provided support and protection for abused women and vulnerable groups were great achievements.

According to Mbah, represented by the state commissioner for agriculture, Mr Patrick Ubru, Prof Ezeilo chose justice over comfort and humanity over silence.

“Her life is a testament to service and sacrifice,” he said.

In her remarks, a former education minister,  Dr Oby Ezekwesili, praised Ezeilo’s exceptional contributions, describing her as a rare personality whose impact transcended borders.

She highlighted the significance of celebrating individuals who dedicated their lives to service and social transformation.

According to her, Ezeilo’s life embodies scholarship, activism, and humanity, saying that she had spent years advocating for the vulnerable and using the law as a tool for justice.

“She has become a garment for many – wrapping the poor, the violated, and the voiceless in the warmth of her advocacy,” Ezekwesili said.

Vice President of Malawi, Dr Jane Ansah, represented by her daughter,  Janet Ansah, noted that Ezeilo’s lifelong advocacy for human and women’s rights had transformed lives and strengthened institutions.

“Her legacy shines in the minds she has shaped and the hope she has inspired. She remains a beacon for all who believe in justice,” she said. (NAN)