Professor Funmilayo Adesanya attended the University of Ife, Ile- Ife, Oyo State, for a B.A (Combined Hons) in English & Yoruba Studies between 1981-1985. Immediately after her NYSC, she went on to obtained a Master’s degree in 1987 in English language at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. As part of requirement for her new found love in academics, teaching and research, in 2000, Professor Mercy Adesanya bagged her PGDE, and then completed her Ph.D in 2003 in Applied Linguistics and Communication Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

She started her lecturing career in 1985 at University of Ilorin, Kwara State while on National Youth Service Corps, after which she lectured at Kwara State College of Technology, Ilorin, now Kwara State Polytechnic following her Master’s degree in 1987, before joining COE now Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt, IAUE in January, 1989.

Professor Adesanya is a teacher, an administrator and has held many administrative positions within and outside of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria including being the former Director, General Studies, Entrepreneur and Skills Acquisition of the University. She is currently a Professor in the Department of English and Communication Arts, and has also lectured at University of Port Harcourt and National Open University, Port Harcourt on part-time basis for some years.

The linguist was also a Dean at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Regent University of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana and Deputy Provost at Life Gate College of Education, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria on sabbatical. She was a Visiting professor to the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana and an external examiner, supervisor of Doctoral dissertations, for the School of Postgraduate Studies of University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Professor Adesanya belongs to different professional associations, among which are the British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL) UK, International Phonetics Association (IPA) UK, Internationale de Linguistiquee (AILA) USA, Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN), The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Nigeria, Reading Association (IRA) Nigeria, Teachers Registration Council (TRC) Nigeria, just to mention but a few.

Professor Adesanya’s research interest spans through Applied Linguistics, Education, English Language and Communications Arts. In her four decades of lecturing, she has over seventy five (75) national and international published articles, over fifty (50) books, over five hundred (500) poems and over two hundred (200) newspaper published articles to her credit.

An interesting fact about her profile is her awards and recognitions across the continent of Africa and the globe. This is an attestation to her consistency in driving excellence, upholding values and a high premium on Integrity.

She is a winner of several honours and awards which includes:
a. Great Woman of the 21st Century Award by American Biographical Institute USA, 2004/2005
b. Woman of the Year Award by International Biographical Centre (IBC) UK 2004/2005
c. The Teaching Excellence Award by American Biographical Institute (ABI)
d. The Achievement in Research Award by American Biographical Institute (ABI)USA 2004/2005
e. Universal Federation Ambassador of Peace Award. Nigeria, 2012
f. The Best Adjudicator Award- South–South University Debate Championship, University of Calabar, 2013
g. Legend of Courage Award, Merit house, Abuja, Nigeria. UN-POLAC World Peace Ambassador Award (Amb.P.) Merit House, Abuja, Nigeria, 2013
h. World Ambassador for Christ WAFC, USA, 2017
i. Outstanding Leadership and long service award by National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Abuja, 2018.
j. Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award of Excellence, Abuja 2018
k. ‘JARMAN MATASAN AREWA’ (War Lord of the Northern Youths), Abuja 2018.
l. Merit Excellence Award as Distinguished of Christian Ethics by Omega legend productions, Port Harcourt, 2018
m. The Award of Excellence Leadership for Great contribution and effort in fighting against COVID-19 by Oga Ndi Oga Foundation, Abuja 2021
n . Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Distinguished Leadership Award by National Association of Northern Nigeria Students (NANNS) Abuja 2022
o. Certificate of Award, in recognition of tangible assistance among peoples of the world by UNITED Nations POLAC, Lagos, 2022
p.Award of God’s General/Gospel Legend of our time/Icon of Woman Development and Employment by Omega legend productions, Port Harcourt, 2022
q. Excellent Performance Award by Students in the Department of English and Communication Arts, Faculty of Humanities, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, 2023.

Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya born again in 1974 at FCS/Scripture Union in her Secondary school days, is a consecrated Bishop,
Member, College of Bishops, IPMA (Affiliate of Council of World Churches, USA, Representative /Educational Consultant Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

She is a defendant of the faith of God in Christ, Co-founder of Agape Bible Church, Eagle’s Chapel, Christian Excellence Ministries with headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Together with her team, she has produced audio Bibles in over twenty Nigerian languages (20).

Mercy Olufunmilayo Adesanya-Davies also holds a Doctor of Divinity (D.D) (Honoris Causa) of Northwestern Christian University and TBU-GE, Florida, USA. She also holds a 2nd Ph.D in Clinical Linguistics and Psychology and serves as an Adjunct professor to Triune Biblical Christian University Global Extension (TBU-GE), New York, USA.

Her membership of Societies as extra curricular activities include:
a. Member of the Clergy: Global Gospel Fellowship int’l, UK
b. Founder/Member of the Clergy: Christian Excellence Ministries, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
c. Member of the Clergy: Sword of the Spirit International, Ibadan, Nigeria
d. Member of the Clergy: Shepherds Place Ministries, Netherlands
e. Matron, NIFES, R/S University of Education, Port Harcourt
f. Matron, Baptist Student Fellowship, R/S University of Education, Port Harcourt
g. Matron, Niger Delta Student Union Government – Rivers State & National
h. Member, Country President and International Director United Nations International Peace Advocate –
i. Member, College of Bishops, IPMA (Affiliate of Council of World Churches. USA)
j. Member, and Secretary, Elders Council Nigerian Supreme Council for Ecclesiastical Affairs (NSCEA) secretary, Elders Council
k. Member, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Representative/Educational Consultant.

Prof. Mercy Olufunmilayo, a multi-talented teacher of teachers is a member of POLAC Int’l Peace Advocate, who currently serves as the Country President, International director, as well as, the Chairperson on the board, serving humanity towards achieving ECOWAS millennium goals. POLAC – Positive Livelihood Award Centre, alias UN-POLAC ‘s mandate is to enhance the effectiveness of the UN millennium development goals and UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme particularly the maintenance of peace and unity in diversity.

A versatile academic and educational prodigy, journalist, widely read, travelled, linguist, poet, editor, pastor, she is prolific writer, a political commentator and public speaker, and an activist. Prof
Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies was a Presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA), of the Federal republic of Nigeria in the 2019 general elections.

Permit me to introduce to you to a distinguished and respected linguist, of over four decades, making significant contributions to our understanding of Communication, Language and Applied linguistics, Professor Funmilayo Adesanya.

Thank you.