President of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) and First Lady of Ekiti State, Nigeria,  Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi has been presented with the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the field of philanthropy. The presentation was made at the Synergos University for a Night event held at the Times Centre in New York, USA, on 5th April 2011. The event also honoured Peter and Jenniffer Buffet, Co-Chairs of the NoVo Foundation.

The David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award is in recognition of the leadership, commitment and dynamism that H.E Bisi Adeleye Fayemi  has demonstrated in over two decades of working to create a better world for women and girls in Africa. That work includes her co-founding and leadership of the African Women’s Development Fund, the establishment of the African Women’s Leadership Institute and numerous contributions to women’s rights in Africa and globally.

Helen LaKelly Hunt, (philanthropist, founder of the Sister Fund and co-Chair of Women Moving Millions), Peggy Dulany (Founder and Chair of Synergos), and David Rockefeller Sr. jointly presented the award to H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, who was described as “bold, inspirational and savvy”.

Accepting the award, H.E. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi said, “Women’s narratives of oppression, suffering and exploitation can be changed to stories of triumph, success, dignity and respect if we are able to provide women with the spaces and tools they need so they can make the kind of choices that set them on the road to freedom.”