Mrs Folake Solanke remains one of the most influential figures in the history of Nigeria’s legal profession. A trailblazer at a time when the legal field was overwhelmingly male-dominated, Solanke’s career broke institutional barriers and laid the foundation for generations of Nigerian women in law. Photographs of her in London in 1960 and earlier in 1957 capture a woman already positioned at the crossroads of history, professionalism, and social change.
Early Life and Legal Training
Folake Solanke was born in Nigeria during the colonial era and pursued her legal education in the United Kingdom, at a time when very few Nigerian women had access to professional training abroad. In 1957, she was called to the Bar in England, becoming one of the earliest Nigerian women to qualify as a lawyer.
It is important to clarify a frequent misconception: 1957 was the year Solanke qualified as a lawyer, not the year she became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) did not even exist at that time, as it was formally instituted in Nigeria in the mid-1970s.
Her qualification in 1957 marked a major milestone, placing her among the first generation of professionally trained Nigerian women lawyers at a time when colonial legal institutions were still dominant.
Professional Career and Legal Impact
After qualifying, Folake Solanke returned to Nigeria and built a distinguished legal career spanning decades. She was known for her intellectual depth, courtroom excellence, and commitment to professional ethics. Her practice coincided with Nigeria’s transition from colonial rule to independence and later republican governance, making her career deeply intertwined with the evolution of Nigerian law itself.
In 1981, Folake Solanke made history when she became the first Nigerian woman to be awarded the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). This achievement was particularly significant because the SAN title represents the highest professional distinction for lawyers in Nigeria, equivalent to the Queen’s Counsel (QC) in the United Kingdom.
Her elevation to SAN was not symbolic; it was recognition of decades of sustained legal excellence, advocacy, and contribution to the development of Nigerian jurisprudence.
The 1960 London Photograph: Context and Meaning
The photograph of Mrs Folake Solanke in London in 1960 is especially symbolic. That year marked Nigeria’s independence, and many Nigerian professionals were either completing training or engaging with international institutions as the country prepared to govern itself.
By 1960, Solanke was already an established legal professional, representing a new class of educated Nigerian women redefining societal expectations. Her presence in London at that time reflects the broader story of Nigerian professionals positioning themselves within global legal and intellectual networks.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Folake Solanke’s legacy extends far beyond her personal achievements. She opened doors for women in law, challenged entrenched gender barriers, and proved that professional excellence could overcome institutional exclusion.
Her career helped normalize the presence of women in senior legal roles and inspired later generations of female judges, advocates, and legal scholars in Nigeria. Today, her name remains a reference point in discussions about gender equality, professional merit, and the historical evolution of Nigeria’s legal system.
Mrs Folake Solanke stands as a towering figure in Nigerian legal history. From her qualification as a lawyer in 1957, through her professional maturity in the independence era, to her historic elevation as Nigeria’s first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1981, her life tells a story of perseverance, intellect, and national service.
She was not merely a participant in Nigeria’s legal development; she was one of its architects.
Sources
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) historical records
Supreme Court of Nigeria – SAN conferment archives
Women and the Nigerian Legal Profession, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
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