- Nigeria’s journey to independence was marked by the tireless efforts of female activists, educators, and politicians
- Tanimowo Ogunlesi, first president of the National Council of Women’s Societies fought for women's right to vote and access education, opened Nigeria’s first boarding school, others
- Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti the “Lioness of Lisabi,” played a significant role against British colonialism
- TheRadar compiled other women who played key roles in the fight for independence
The story of Nigeria’s independence would be incomplete without acknowledging the significant contributions of the women who fought alongside their male counterparts.
These heroines not only championed women’s rights but were also at the forefront of movements, and advocated for social justice, equality, and good governance.
As Nigeria marks 64 years of independence, TheRadar compiled seven of the extraordinary women who have played an integral role in the nation’s Independence journey.
Women who contributed to Nigeria’s independence journey
1. Tanimowo Ogunlesi
Tanimowo Ogunlesi, an educator, women’s rights activist, and nationalist served as the first president of the National Council of Women’s Societies, where she championed women's right to vote and access to education.
In 1948, she opened 'The Children’s Home,' Nigeria’s first Nigerian-owned boarding school, in Ibadan. Ogunlesi also contributed to the independence struggle, representing women as the only female in the 1953 Nigerian delegation to the UK to discuss independence.
2. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was another prominent figure who fiercely opposed British colonial rule, advocating for the rights of citizens during the pre-independence era. She leveraged her influence to mobilise women against colonialism, earning her the title “Lioness of Lisabi.”
Undeterred, Ransome-Kuti continued to speak out against colonial policies, particularly those related to taxation and the exclusion of women from decision-making processes. She rallied market women for various events like picnics and festivals, and in 1953, she organised a conference in Abeokuta focused on women's welfare.
This meeting led to the creation of the Federation of Nigerian Women's Societies (FNWS), a group dedicated to fighting for women's rights against all odds.
A tragic turning point in her life occurred on February 18, 1977, when soldiers raided the Lagos home of her son, Fela Kuti, a fellow activist. At 76, Ransome-Kuti was thrown from a second-storey window, sustaining injuries that eventually led to her death on April 13, 1978.
3. Hajia Gambo Sawaba
Hailing from Northern Nigeria, she gained prominence as a women’s rights activist, politician, and philanthropist.
Inspired by a spirit of activism, she was mentored by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and later travelled to meet her in Abeokuta. She is widely recognised as a pioneer in the fight for the liberation of women in Northern Nigeria.
Throughout her political career, Hajia Sambo served as the deputy chairman of the Great Nigeria People’s Party and was elected as the leader of the national women’s wing of the Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU).
Gambo had the backing of traditional rulers, including Emirs, as well as the British Colonial Authority. She was a vocal advocate against child marriages and forced labour and promoted Western education in the North.
Her boldness was displayed when, during a political lecture in the North, she stood and spoke in a room filled with men, making a name for herself.
4. Margaret Ekpo
Margaret Ekpo stood out in pre-independence Nigeria and beyond as a political icon who championed women’s rights and the role of women in politics. A fierce women’s rights activist, she also played a key role as a social mobiliser and grassroots politician, undaunted by the male-dominated political scene of the era.
In her fight for women’s rights and against their unjust treatment by colonial authorities, Margaret Ekpo joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). She partnered with prominent figures like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti to mobilise women into political participation.
In 1953, Ekpo was nominated by the NCNC to the regional House of Chiefs, and the next year, she founded the Aba Township Women’s Association, a pressure group aimed at advocating for women’s rights.
5. Elizabeth Adekogbe
Elizabeth Adekogbe, like many other trailblazers in Nigeria’s Independence, was a highly influential politician, nationalist, and champion of women's rights.
Adekogbe actively participated in the fight for independence, passionately advocating for the inclusion of more women in politics, and led numerous campaigns to promote education for the girl child.
She led the Ibadan-based Women’s Movement of Nigeria, which was renamed the Nigerian Council of Women in 1954. In 1959, the group merged with the Women’s Improvement League to form the National Council of Women Societies.
6. Wuraola Esan
A nationalist and politician, Wuraola Esan was deeply involved in advocating for women’s rights. As an educator, she founded the Ibadan People’s Girls Grammar School in 1940, a major step in promoting female education.
Politically, she was involved with the Nigerian Youth Movement and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons. She broke barriers as the first female senator in the Nigerian National Assembly, representing Ibadan West.
Esan was also a founding member of the National Council of Women’s Societies.
7. The Aba Women
Among those who significantly contributed to Nigeria's independence struggle were also women from the southern part of the country, notably involved in the historic ‘Aba Women’s Riot.’
The riot saw women standing up against the economic and socio-political injustices of the colonial regime in Igboland, specifically protesting the taxation of market women and the oppressive authority of the warrant chiefs established under the indirect rule system.
In November 1929, a large group of women rallied in Calabar and Owerri, occupying major roads and streets as part of their protest. This significant uprising forced several warrant chiefs to resign and is considered the first major riot against British rule in Nigeria.
Nigeria at 64: Celebrating the heroes who made Independence possible
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the drive for Nigeria’s independence on October 1, 1960, was fuelled by activists and politicians who dedicated themselves to liberating the nation from colonial rule.
As the country celebrates its 64th anniversary, TheRadar compiled some of the heroes who led the way to the nation’s independence.