Oluwafunke Adeoye
Founder and Executive Director Hope Behind Bars Africa

Oluwafunke Adeoye is a Lawyer, Human Rights Defender and a Social Innovator.

She is the Founder and Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars Africa, an organization that promotes human rights and criminal justice reforms using legal aid, empowerment and tech. Her work has fostered access to justice  and access to opportunities for hundreds of incarcerated and underserved persons in Nigeria.

‘Funke has an LLB from University of Benin and an M.A in Peace and Security Studies (in view) from University of Abuja. She previously worked as a Legal Associate at Olumide Sofowora SAN Chambers before transitioning into the social impact space. Oluwafunke has  worked as a Programs Manager at Global Rights, where she led interventions that  amplified  the work of grassroot advocates across Sub-saharan Africa. She has also consulted for Cornell University, World Justice Project, Accountability Lab, PLAC and several other non-profit organizations.

Ms. Adeoye has an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Lagos Business School. She is a 2019 LEAP Africa Social Innovation Fellow, a 2022 CivicHive fellow and a One Young World Ambassador. She is also a (TFAA ) Future Africa Finalist for Advocacy and a  100 Leading Ladies Africa  Honoree.  In 2020, she was listed by Attic London as one of the lawyers changing the world for the better. In 2022, she was listed as one of 100 Most Distinguished Women Changemakers in Nigeria by Humanitarian Award Global.