About Hilda Adefarasin
Hilda Adefarasin, 98, Nigerian women's rights activist.
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Full Biography
|Hilda Adefarasin (9 January 1925 – 5 February 2023) was a Nigerian women's rights activist who was the president of the National Council of Women's Societies (NCWS). She left her nursing profession in 1969 to concentrate on professional activities of the NCWS. In 1971, she was the council's treasurer and in 1987, she became the president.
Early life
Hilda Adefarasin was born in Lagos to the family of Wilford and Ethel Petgrave in 1925. Her father, who was born in Jamaica, worked with the Nigerian Railway in Lagos and her mother (née Ambleston) was born in Antigua. Adefarasin attended CMS Girls' School Lagos. She also attended Achimota College, Ghana. In 1945, she became pupil-midwife with Massey Street Hospital but in 1948, she traveled to England, where she qualified as a registered nurse in 1951. In 1960, she was a founding member and secretary of the Professional Association of Trained Nurses of Nigeria and soon joined the National Council of Women's Societies as a representative of nurses. In 1971, she became the council's treasurer, holding that position until 1980. In 1984, Adefarasin succeeded Justice Nzeako as president of NCWS. Her selection continued a string of educated elite women presidents of NCWS. Adefarasin felt the forum was an association of varied women with diverse professional interests who create awareness for women's recognition in national life and nation building. The NCWS during her tenure promoted an Expanded Programme on Immunization and operational theatres for young girls with vesico vaginal fistula.
Adefarasin was one out of two women who were nominated by president Ibrahim Babangida as members of the 1986 Political Bureau.
Personal life and death
Adefarasin was married to Hon. Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin. She is the mother of Wale Adefarasin, Adebola Adefarasin, Yinka Ogundipe, Michael Adeyemi Adefarasin and Paul Adefarasin. She celebrated her ninetieth birthday on 1 November 2015.
Adefarasin died on 5 February 2023, at the age of 98.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Adefarasin
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Hilda Adefarasin's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what year was Hilda Adefarasin born?
- A.1930
- B.1920
- C.1928
- D.1925correct
Hilda Adefarasin was born on 9 January 1925.
Source: Biography introduction
2.Where was Hilda Adefarasin born?
- A.London
- B.Accra
- C.Lagoscorrect
- D.Kingston
Hilda Adefarasin was born in Lagos to the family of Wilford and Ethel Petgrave.
Source: Early life section
3.Which educational institution did Hilda Adefarasin attend in Ghana?
- A.Achimota Collegecorrect
- B.Legon College
- C.University of Ghana
- D.Wesley Girls High School
Hilda Adefarasin attended Achimota College in Ghana during her early education.
Source: Early life section
4.In what year did Hilda Adefarasin qualify as a registered nurse in England?
- A.1948
- B.1951correct
- C.1960
- D.1955
Hilda Adefarasin traveled to England in 1948 and qualified as a registered nurse in 1951.
Source: Early life section
5.What profession did Hilda Adefarasin leave in 1969 to focus on the National Council of Women's Societies?
- A.Politics
- B.Law
- C.Nursingcorrect
- D.Teaching
Hilda Adefarasin left her nursing profession in 1969 to concentrate on the professional activities of the NCWS.
Source: Biography introduction
6.What position did Hilda Adefarasin hold at the National Council of Women's Societies starting in 1971?
- A.President
- B.Representative
- C.Secretary
- D.Treasurercorrect
In 1971, Hilda Adefarasin became the treasurer of the National Council of Women's Societies.
Source: Biography introduction
7.When did Hilda Adefarasin officially become the president of the National Council of Women's Societies?
- A.1984
- B.1980
- C.1971
- D.1987correct
Hilda Adefarasin became the president of the National Council of Women's Societies in 1987.
Source: Biography introduction
8.Whom did Hilda Adefarasin succeed as president of the NCWS in 1984?
- A.Justice Nzeakocorrect
- B.Ethel Petgrave
- C.Ibrahim Babangida
- D.Yinka Ogundipe
In 1984, Hilda Adefarasin succeeded Justice Nzeako as president of the NCWS.
Source: Early life section
9.What specific health initiative did the NCWS promote during the tenure of Hilda Adefarasin?
- A.Expanded Programme on Immunizationcorrect
- B.Clean Water Awareness
- C.National Malaria Eradication
- D.Primary Healthcare Reform
During her tenure, the NCWS promoted an Expanded Programme on Immunization.
Source: Early life section
10.Hilda Adefarasin was nominated to the 1986 Political Bureau by which president?
- A.Olusegun Obasanjo
- B.Shehu Shagari
- C.Nnamdi Azikiwe
- D.Ibrahim Babangidacorrect
President Ibrahim Babangida nominated Hilda Adefarasin as one of the members of the 1986 Political Bureau.
Source: Early life section
11.What was the name of Hilda Adefarasin's husband?
- A.Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasincorrect
- B.Paul Adefarasin
- C.Wilford Petgrave
- D.Wale Adefarasin
Hilda Adefarasin was married to Hon. Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin.
Source: Personal life and death section
12.How many children are listed for Hilda Adefarasin in the text?
- A.6
- B.5correct
- C.3
- D.4
Hilda Adefarasin is the mother of Wale Adefarasin, Adebola Adefarasin, Yinka Ogundipe, Michael Adeyemi Adefarasin, and Paul Adefarasin.
Source: Personal life and death section
13.On what date did Hilda Adefarasin pass away?
- A.9 January 2023
- B.5 February 2023correct
- C.15 February 2023
- D.1 November 2022
Hilda Adefarasin died on 5 February 2023.
Source: Personal life and death section
14.How old was Hilda Adefarasin when she passed away?
- A.95
- B.90
- C.100
- D.98correct
Hilda Adefarasin died on 5 February 2023 at the age of 98.
Source: Personal life and death section
15.Where was the father of Hilda Adefarasin born?
- A.Antigua
- B.Nigeria
- C.England
- D.Jamaicacorrect
Hilda Adefarasin's father, Wilford Petgrave, was born in Jamaica.
Source: Early life section
16.Where was the mother of Hilda Adefarasin born?
- A.Ghana
- B.Jamaica
- C.Lagos
- D.Antiguacorrect
Hilda Adefarasin's mother, née Ambleston, was born in Antigua.
Source: Early life section
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