Biography of Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke “Funmilayo” Atilade (née Williams)

Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke “Funmilayo” Atilade (née Williams; born 24 September 1952), is a Nigerian legal expert and former Chief Judge of Lagos State. Prior to this role, she served as a judge at the Lagos State High Court.

Background
Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke Williams was born on 24 September 1952 in London to Justice James Oladipo Williams and Henrietta Aina Williams, both of Nigerian origin. Her father was a prominent judge.

She completed her West African School Certificate Examination at Anglican Girls Grammar School in Surulere, Lagos. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Lagos in 1975 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1976. She fulfilled the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year at the Ministry of Justice in Benin City.

Legal Career
Atilade began her legal career in 1977 as a State Counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice. In 1979, she joined the Nigerian Ports Authority as a Senior Legal Officer. After three years, she transitioned to the Lagos State Judiciary, where she served as a Senior Magistrate and later as Chief Magistrate Admin at the Apapa Magistrate Court.

In July 1996, under the administration of Military Administrator Mohammed Buba Marwa, she was appointed a judge of the Lagos State High Court.

On 20 August 2015, Atilade was sworn in as the Chief Judge of Lagos State by Governor Babatunde Fashola, succeeding her sister, Ayotunde Phillips. She holds the distinction of being the fifth female Chief Judge of Lagos State.