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Summary
Renowned feminist, youth advocate and Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State Youth Parliament, Damilola Agbaje, known for her excellence in law, leadership, and activism, has sadly passed away on June 11, 2025. Her legacy will forever be remembered.
The Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State Youth Parliament, RT. HON. Oluwadamilola Fatimat Agbaje, a renowned feminist popularly known on Twitter as “Gen-Z Honourable” (@D_e_e_lish) has passed away on June 11, 2025.
The tragic news of her passing was announced on Twitter by her brother, Olufemi Talabi.
“We received the heartbreaking news that my sister passed away suddenly and unexpectedly,” he posted. “She was truly a star and was full of joy, warmth and light. More than a sister, she was like a daughter, given the significant age gap.”
At the time of this report, the cause of her death remains unknown. Damilola Agbaje was an Sustainable Development Goals advocate and youth leader committed to education, youth inclusion, and gender equality. At just 16, she was among the John Kayode Fayemi Inaugural Essay Competition winners.
She represented the youth of Oye Constituency II in the Ekiti Youth Parliament, where she also served as Chairperson of the Committee for Ekiti Youth Policy Review. She was also the Deputy Majority Leader of the 3rd Parliament of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the Nigerian President.
A brilliant legal mind, Damilola was a first-class law graduate from Elizade University and the best graduating student from the Faculty of Law in the 2018–2023 set. She also emerged as the second-best overall graduating student at the university.
Known for her sharp intellect and commitment to excellence, she was a British Parliamentary Debater and the Best Female Debater at the All Nigerian Universities Debating Championship in 2019 and 2022. She won multiple awards and was a representative in national and international debate tournaments.
RT. HON. Oluwadamilola Fatimat founded The Consciousness Movement, an initiative aimed at equipping Nigerian youth with public speaking and critical thinking skills. She also hosted The Legal Hangout, a podcast that made legal knowledge accessible to the everyday Nigerian.
She was deeply invested in public service and leadership. A member of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Damilola held certifications in Agripreneurship, growth strategies, and African economic ideologies. She was a student at the Atlas Leadership Academy and a Chartered Arbitrator with the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators.
In her role as Deputy Speaker, she convened and led several impactful initiatives. These included “Youth Agenda 2030: Rewriting the Ekiti Story,” which encouraged youth participation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and an Inter-Parliamentary Leadership Exchange focused on ethical leadership and development. She also oversaw the creation of a comprehensive database of opportunities for Ekiti youth. In the legislative chamber, she sponsored a motion advocating for compulsory sexual and reproductive health education in secondary schools.
Her outreach efforts addressed critical issues such as sexual harassment, female genital mutilation (FGM), and inclusive leadership. Furthermore, she mobilised female parliamentarians through the Women in Parliament initiative to strengthen gender equality and amplify women’s voices within the political space.
In response to the tragic passing, Nigerian feminists have taken to social media to honour her life, legacy, and impact.
“Honourable Damilola Agbaje was such a bright star, a member of my women’s community, and this is such a tough loss for me.”@asangelwassayin posted on Twitter, “She was my go-to person for insight into young Nigerian women in politics and was always on the ground to answer my journo requests.”
@faree_for_real also expressed deep sorrow, describing Damilola as an impactful person:
“Oluwadamilola Agbaje was an Amazon. We used to bond over our shared love for trench music. She was a brave feminist. She was a doer. The Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State Youth Parliament. The brightest woman I know. Your name will never be forgotten”
Another user, @chubbiedivah, reflected on Damilola’s vibrant spirit and passion:
“We lost such a bright, passionate, young feminist. She was a beautiful babe, all around, and a delight. I hope her family and loved ones can take comfort in the memories they shared with Dami. ”
As tributes pour in, Damilola Fatimat Agbaje will be remembered for her exceptional intellect, commitment to advocacy and equity, and the powerful legacy in youth development and public service.
