Mrs. Folasade Adunni Bakare
Mrs. Folasade Adunni Bakare, the incumbent President of Home Science Association is an astute administrator and accomplished educationist. She is a veritable icon in home economics and domestic education. She has travelled far and wide in the quest for excellence and accomplishment in education.
A leader with inventive skills, she initiated the establishment of Lagos State Home Economics Teachers’ Association (LASHETA) which was the precursor of Home Economics Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (HETAN). In 1977, she won the award for the Best Teacher Training College Exhibition on Local Cosmetics at the first edition of the Nigeria International Trade Fair in Lagos. Bakare, a trainer of trainers, pioneered the training of male teachers in the field of Home Economics in Lagos State nay Nigeria. She started this programme during her sojourn at Muslim Teacher Training College, Surulere, Lagos in 1975.
An indigene of Ogun State, born in the historic town of Ago – Owu, she had her first taste of formal education at Convent of the Holy Child Jesus, Calabar. She was also educated at St. Peter Claver Primary School, Itesi, Abeokuta; St. Peter Claver Secondary School, Itesi, Abeokuta; St Agnes Teacher Training College Maryland, Ikeja (where she obtained the Teacher Grade II Certificate in 1958); Ohio University, USA and the Yorkshire College of Home Economics and Education (where she bagged the Leeds University Certificate in Education in 1966). She holds a degree in Associate Arts in Christian Ministry from the Latter Rain Bible College which is an affiliate of Indiana Christian University, U.S.A .
The career profile of this great woman of our time is quite fascinating. Right from 1959, when she served as a teacher at Nazareth Training College, Ibowon, Epe, Lagos State her story has been dotted by an array of sterling achievements. Between 1966 and 1970, she worked at several institutions in England including Authority (1966 – 1970). Dick Shepherd Comprehensive High School, Tulse Hill, London; Brent Knoll School for Delicate Children, Beacon Road, London and Willow field School for Maladjusted Children, Cutcombe Road, London. She was a Home Economics Specialist with the Lagos State Schools Management Board between 1981 and 1984. Having served as Head of Coordination Section in 1986, she was seconded to the defunct Peoples Bank of Nigeria, where she served as Head of the Monitoring Section at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos until 1991. She eventually retired from the service of Lagos State on the rank of Assistant Chief Inspector of Education in 1994 .
Mrs. Folasade Adunni Bakare has served the Home Science Association (HAS) in several distinguished capacities including as: Member of the Executive Council, Member, Boarding House Committee; Member, Primary School Committee; Public Relations Officer; Member Board of Governors and Chairman Staff Promotion Committee. She became President of the association in 2013. Today, Home Science Association has established three nursery and one primary one schools, a secondary school, a vocational institute and a day care centre. She is also the incumbent Editor – in – Chief of the HAS Newsletter. She is a member of the Board of Governors of HENNA TECH International School, Iba, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Mrs. Bakare is a member of Home Economics Council of Nigeria, Home Economics Association of Africa and the International Federation for Home Economics. She has won a number of laurels and honours including the award of the Home Economics Education Distinguished Elders Award by HAS and the award of the Standard Mandate International. Last year, she was honoured by PSR Magazine with the Woman of Merit Gold Award. A dynamic and God fearing woman, Bakare believes, sings and preaches the gospel of peace. Her utmost aspiration is to continue to live as a devout Christian and to align herself to the will and purpose of the Almighty God for her life.
She is married with children, grandchildren and great–grand children. She enjoys reading, counseling, writing, listening to music and gardening as pastimes.