Tribute to Mrs Coker  – A Zontian Par Excellence

Zonta International Club of Lagos 1 which was chartered in Lagos in April 1970, is a member of Zonta International, founded in Buffalo, New York in 1919. Zonta is a global organization of executives in business and the professions, working together to improve the legal, political, economic, health, educational, and professional status of women worldwide, through service and advocacy. Today, Zonta International is a global organization of more than 29,000 members in nearly 1,200 Zonta clubs in 67 countries.

Zontian Efunjoke Coker was a Charter member of Zonta Club of Lagos 1, and her life mirrored the words of the ZONTA CODE;

• To honour my work and consider it as an opportunity for service. 
• To increase the measure of that service by consistent self-improvement.
• To contribute by study and action to the improvement of the legal, political, economic, health, education and professional status of women.

She took advantage of the opportunities offered by Zonta Conventions and Study Tours to gain first hand, in-depth knowledge of the peoples and cultures in diverse regions of the world including six South and Central American countries in 1987, during the Zonta-organized Latin American Study Tour, and her two other favorite tours were the Far East and Scandinavian Zonta study tours.

Zontian Efunjoke Coker was President of Zonta Club of Lagos 1 from 1982 to 1984 and although she held several other posts in Zonta, it was during her involvement with young women as Chairman of Golden Zee that her passion for Zonta reached its greatest height and left an indelible mark on the lives of young female graduates and undergraduates in the University of Lagos. She was an amazing mentor who touched upon every aspect of their lives as young ladies, inspired them to undertake numerous community projects and made them appreciate the international nature of Zonta by linking them with a Golden Zee Club in Chile whose chartering she had attended. During a recent condolence visit by members of Zonta Club of Lagos 1, one of those “young ladies” recalled with poignant nostalgia the Zee Club meetings she attended in Z. Coker’s house. Having had the opportunity to interact with Zontian Coker at close quarters as President of Golden Zee Club, it is little wonder that when she became a member of Zonta Club of Lagos 1, she rose rapidly through the ranks to become President of the Club and was recently appointed as a Trustee of Zonta Club of Lagos 1…

Another Zontian, who was also a Charter Member shared fond memories of Zontian Coker’s pioneering work in raising awareness about the importance of providing education for Nigerian girls and women in both urban and rural areas, and how she took members of the club to local communities outside Lagos. Zontian Coker’s passion never wavered despite the fact that what she was saying was not always what community leaders at that time wanted to hear! 

 Zontian Efunjoke Coker was a highly respected, well-loved member of Zonta Club of Lagos 1 and a shining example of commitment to the ideals of Zonta which means “honest and trustworthy”. A legend in her own time, she inspired members of all ages and she will be sorely missed not only by Zontians in Nigeria and other Clubs in West Africa, but also by the many friends she made in Zonta Clubs all over the world.

May her Gentle Soul Rest in Perfect Peace.

Zonta International Club of Lagos 1

Mrs Efunjoke Coker…a pride to all Queen’s College Old Girls. The first Nigerian Principal and what we can say is the Founder of the Modern  Day Queen’s College.

The Principal of All Principals… I salute you

Our interactions were as fellow Old Girls, most especially as l was the Secretary of QCOGA throughout your tenure as Principal. You made interactions easy and smooth for the progress of the school

You stood for Excellence Discipline with strong morals of which my own daughter Oludayo is a product of.

As fellow members of Zonta International Club Lagos 1, our interactions was always a pleasure

Adieu our dear Mrs Coker, you lived the motto “Pass On The Torch” with QC girls doing exploits all over the world

Heaven has received an Angel

Rest In Peace

Lady Abigail Iyabode Awotesu