Mrs Joyce Anomoghan Aluko (nee Ofuya) was born at Ekpoma, Edo State on September 20, 1934,  to Pa John Willie Ofuya of Ikoro (Olodiama Ijaw clan) and Madam Ruth Agbisi Ofuya of Arokho (Owan West LGA), both of present-day Edo State,  she attended St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School, Ekpoma (1941-48),  and secondary school at Queen’s College Lagos/Queen’s School Ede (1949-1953).  She got engaged to (now late Professor) Samuel Adepoju  Aluko – who she had first met in 1947 at Ekpoma -  in August 1954, and they were married in Lagos on Valentine’s Day 1955.  Joyce proceeded abroad for university education to join her husband  at the London School of Economics, where she earned a Certificate in Social Science and Administration (1958),  as well as at the  London School of Medical Social Work (Certificate in MSW, 1959).  After returning to Nigeria, she attended the University of Ife (Bachelors in Economics, 1965) – graduating with honours in the same department where her husband taught - and then proceeded again to the University of Birmingham (Masters in Social Work, 1974) during a sabbatical year of her husband at the same university.  

She worked as a draughtsman at the Federal School of Survey (1954), and  a teacher at St. Andrew’s Primary School at Ekpoma (1955-1956).  She then worked as a Medical Social Worker at the University College Hospital (UCH) from 1959-1962, Administrative Officer in the Dean’s Office at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1965-67), and then did top administrative duties at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1967 to 1979, rising from an Administrative Officer to Deputy Registrar/Director of Planning, Budgeting and Monitoring.  She transferred her service to the University of Benin, where, from 1979 to 1981, she was the Director of Academic Planning, from where she retired with meritorious service honors. 

Upon retirement, she formed Academic Planning Consultants APC  with Prof. Sam Aluko, doing consultancy services for many Universities in Nigeria.  She was Chairperson of Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO delegation for fifteen years (1993-2008),  and a delegate to the Beijing Women’s Conference in September 1995.     

Mrs Aluko was a dedicated mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, social worker, foremost university administrator and defender of women's rights until her passing unto glory at 5.40 pm (Nigerian time) on Friday March 5, 2021, at Akure, Ondo-State, Nigeria. Her passing was peaceful at a ripe age of 86,  survived by all her six children Mobolaji, Olufemi, Morenike, Gbenga, Olubunmi and Adeyemi,  twenty-four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and other family members. She rests peacefully.