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Summary
From fighting colonial rule to leading in politics, Nigerian women have always stood up against injustice and helped shape the country’s history. Through their work in activism, culture, and public service, they continue to drive change and make their voices heard.
Nigeria’s history is marked by ancient civilisations, colonial domination, and post-independence challenges that span thousands of years. From the Nok culture and pre-colonial empires to the post-1960 quest for stability and nationhood, Nigeria’s story is rich and complex.
The period between 1849 and 1960 is often presented as a timeline of British colonial transformation across the Niger-Benue region. These years are well documented in history books, but they leave out or downplay the iconic roles that women have played in Nigeria’s history.
The Power of Protest: Women Who Resisted
Long before Nigeria gained independence in 1960, Nigerian women were already challenging colonial rule and injustice. One of the most iconic figures of this era is Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. She was an educator, feminist, and fearless political activist.
Often reduced in history to being the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria, her contributions go far beyond that achievement. In 1947, she led the Abeokuta Women’s Revolt, a powerful movement against colonial taxation that brought thousands of women together to demand economic justice and political representation.
Her activism was not only a fight against colonial oppression but also a resistance to the deeply rooted patriarchy of that time. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was a pioneering feminist who demanded women’s rights, access to political participation, and equality long before these became mainstream conversations. She remains one of Nigeria’s most influential figures, leading the fight for women’s rights during the first half of the 20th century and laying the groundwork for future activists.
In 1929, thousands of women in southeastern Nigeria staged one of West Africa’s most significant anti-colonial uprisings. Known as the Aba Women’s Riot or the Women’s War, the movement saw over 10,000 Igbo, Ibibio, and other southeastern women rise up against British colonial rule.
The protests began in Oloko, when women from the Bende District, Umuahia, and nearby areas gathered to challenge the British-imposed warrant chiefs, whom they accused of restricting women’s roles in governance and unfairly imposing taxes. What followed was a well-coordinated campaign of market strikes, protests, and acts of civil disobedience that shook the colonial establishment.
Led by women from the Calabar and Owerri provinces, the movement quickly spread across southeastern Nigeria. It became the most serious challenge to British authority in the region and took the colonial government months to suppress.
It stands today as a powerful early example of feminist resistance in Nigeria.
Trailblazers in Politics and Leadership
Nigerian women didn’t stop at protest but also stepped into power.
Margaret Ekpo emerged as one of Nigeria’s pioneering female politicians during the country’s First Republic. A passionate women’s rights advocate and social mobiliser, she broke barriers in a male-dominated political landscape, championing gender equity and political representation.
In 1953, Margaret was nominated by the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) to the House of Chiefs, becoming one of the first women to hold such a position. The following year, she established the Aba Township Women’s Association, which evolved into a powerful political pressure group demanding greater inclusion and social justice.
Margaret Ekpo’s activism went beyond ethnicity or class; she mobilised women across regional lines and played a key role in Nigeria’s anti-colonial movement. Her legacy is immortalised in landmarks like the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, named in her honour.
She wasn’t alone. Women like Janet Mokelu, Wuraola Esan, and Hannah Awoliyi stood beside her, each contributing to the foundation of women’s political inclusion in Nigeria.
In a male-dominated military, Major General Aderonke Kale stood out as the first female major-general in the Nigerian Army. A trained psychiatrist, she returned to Nigeria in 1971 and joined the Army the following year, an unusual move for a woman in her field at the time.
Her excellence earned her the title Consultant Psychiatrist in 1973 and Chief Consultant in 1982. She became the first woman to command a military hospital, serving in Ibadan, Enugu, and Benin throughout the 1980s.
Artists, Writers, and Cultural Icons
Nigerian women have shaped politics and the country’s cultural identity. Flora Nwapa, Africa’s first internationally published female novelist, gave voice to complex female experiences through literature. Her debut novel, Efuru (1966), marked her as a pioneer, earning her the title Mother of Modern African Literature.
Following in her footsteps, Buchi Emecheta broke literary ground with bold explorations of gender, migration, and motherhood, further expanding the space for women’s stories in African writing.
In the visual arts, Nike Davies-Okundaye preserved and elevated traditional Adire textile art, becoming a global ambassador for Nigerian craft and inspiring a new generation of female artists.
Women in Public Service
From health to governance, women have also transformed Nigeria’s public institutions. One of the most respected figures in this space was Dora Akunyili, a renowned pharmacist, public administrator, and reformer. From 2001 to 2008, she was the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), leading a groundbreaking fight against fake and substandard drugs.
Dora Akunyili’s fearless campaign saved lives, raised public awareness, and brought stricter regulations to Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and food industries. Her leadership restored public trust in NAFDAC and set a new standard for integrity in public service. She later served as Minister of Information and Communications, continuing her legacy of service and transparency.
Voices of Resistance Today
From #BringBackOurGirls to #EndSARS, Nigerian women have remained at the forefront of national advocacy. Activists like Aisha Yesufu, known for her fiery voice and iconic protest stance, have become symbols of the ongoing struggle against state violence and injustice.
Feminist collectives such as the Feminist Coalition have harnessed the power of digital activism and grassroots organising, mobilising resources and amplifying voices in real time. Writers and public thinkers like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie continue to push the feminist mantle forward, sparking global conversations on gender and identity.
Naija Feminist Media is also a powerful force committed to amplifying women’s voices through factual storytelling. NFM focuses on reporting women’s stories with depth, truth, and impact by shining a light on women’s struggles, celebrating their achievements, and challenging the systems that silence them.
Yet beyond the headlines, countless women in communities, farms, classrooms, and marketplaces are powerfully reshaping Nigeria daily.
