The impressive contribution of women to Nigeria's independence
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This piece by Ibrahim Mahmoud Opene from Bayero University Kano highlights some major contributions of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, and Gambo Sawaba in the years leading to Nigeria's independence.
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Every year, the anniversary of Nigeria’s independence is celebrated and so are the many men who are hailed for fighting to bring it about. Herbert Macaulay, Ahmadu Bello, Jaja Wachuku, Obafemi Awolowo, and many others are hailed in history lessons as the champions of our independence.
But women have been noticeably missing from this history. Their contributions are hidden under blanket statements and they are mentioned sparingly. Many of them are not even remembered. There are three, however, whose contributions history could not deny. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, and Gambo Sawaba. A small selection of their numerous contributions includes:
Creating a population of voting women
In the years leading up to independence, women became more and more involved in electoral processes and in their own government. Ransome-Kuti and Ekpo led political coalitions of women in the western and eastern parts of the nation respectively. And Gambo Sawaba did the same in the north. At the height of their support, women voters in political parties in the emerging Nigeria outnumbered the men. These women proved to the world that Nigeria was ready for self-governance.
Source: Getty Images
Fighting against colonial injustice
It can be said that Funmilayo was largely responsible for stirring up anti-colonial sentiments that led to the quest for independence. She led the Abeokuta Women’s Union in several protests against social injustice and unfair taxes imposed by colonial overseers. It quickly became known that she and the women she led would not back down no matter how much they were pressured. Ekpo and Sawaba led similar movements too.
Drawing international attention to the Nigerian struggle
At the height of her political career, Ransome-Kuti made many speeches and appearances in the UK and several other countries and international forums. There, she lit the beacon of awareness that created external support for Nigeria’s self-rule. Locally, she and Ekpo teamed up severally to tackle issues of civil rights and extra-judicial killings.
Holding political positions
Ekpo was a chief. She was the leader of the Aba Township Women’s Association. She also won a seat to the Eastern Regional House of Assembly in 1961, immediately after independence. Ransome-Kuti was president of the Abeokuta Women’s Union, a founding member of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons party (NCNC), and president of the NCNC Women’s Organisation in the Western Region. She also led the Federation of Nigerian Women’s Societies. Gambo Sawaba was deputy chairman of Great Nigeria People’s Party and leader of the national women’s wing of Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU).
These women held and used these political positions effectively to position women at the forefront of the Independence movement, both pre and post-independence. They were instrumental in the country’s development into more than just an amalgamation of loosely connected peoples.
The contributions of these great women should never be forgotten. Rather, it is our duty to discover the untold stories so that when we tell our history, we can tell it completely.
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