Happy Independence Day, I Guess
Yesterday was Independence Day.
Every time I saw a “Happy Independence Day” post, I thought to myself, “If you say so.” Instead of being in a celebratory mood, all I could think about was how little progress we have made as a country since 1960.
One can even argue that there has been a decline in the quality of life of the average Nigerian. Yet, in the struggle that almost every Nigerian faces, discriminated groups face additional challenges on top of it. For instance, in an indigent household with male and female children, the male child is more likely to be prioritised for education over the female child. Such discrimination is evident in virtually every aspect of our society.
While scrolling on Twitter today, I came across a discussion on how female contributions to nation-building have been downplayed, or even outrightly erased from history. It reminded me of an essay I wrote 5 years ago, almost to the day. Here are some of my reflections from that essay.
Women and Nigeria’s Independence
For most of history, women have had a seemingly insignificant role in politics. These roles generally include being, almost solely, responsible for nurturing children while barely holding any political office.
In the case that they do, they are usually only in charge of women and children affairs. Over time, however, there have been women who went beyond the societal norms and played notable roles in the progression of their nations. It is wonderful to read about and witness women who realise their potential to contribute significantly to the development of the country.
The Economic and Social Power of Nigerian Women
Presently, women have various roles in social, economic, political and general developmental activities. Socially, they are deemed the primary caretakers of both the young and the old. Economically, women are a major force in the business world, even when their work was generally not recognised. This is evident as women constitute 48.4% of the Nigerian labour force as of 2024 (World Bank).
Factors influencing the active participation of women in national development
Women have been faced with various factors that either enable them to contribute greatly towards national progression or suppress their ability to do so. Socio-economic factors especially affect girls and women in rural or rural and underserved regions, as they are given the responsibility of maintaining the household from a young age.
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They are usually denied the opportunity to participate in other activities that seem to conflict with their culturally assigned gender roles. Several households would prefer that their daughters stay home with their mothers and learn how to manage a home, rather than allow them to explore other areas of life.
This leaves many girls unprepared to thrive beyond the household. And yet, despite the odds stacked against them, some women broke through these barriers.
Notable women and their vital roles in independence
Despite the gender discrimination in the colonial and early post-colonial era, several women were able to break through the barrier and make contributions towards the development of Nigeria. Many contributions of women have been shrouded in history, only to be found after a deep dive.
Consider Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, most popularly known as the “first woman to drive a car”. Her role in the independence of Nigeria from the British, however, is barely known. Her story, like those of many other women, is hardly mentioned in mainstream history books, and even then, she is usually only said to be “the first woman to drive a car”. This was not all there was to her, however, as she was a prominent activist who played an important role in the independence movement. She led protests against colonialism, the implementation of unjust laws, and the lack of women’s representation in the government.
How about Margaret Ekpo? Why is it that we know her name, but so little of her story? She inspires me because not only did she contribute to the fight against cultural and racial imbalance in the then administration, but she also seized the opportunity to fight for civil rights for women. Despite the disapproval from some of Nigeria’s founding fathers, she attended a political rally and used her role in politics to uplift fellow women. She gave many women a platform to be heard and influenced the progression of Nigeria from a gender biased nation to a nation that regards all her citizens equally.
A Long Road Ahead: The Battle for Political Parity
Gender inequality has been a major setback for women and for the country as a whole, because this would mean that about half its population are being discriminated against and progress is at half its supposed rate. We are, however, phasing into a less discriminatory society. In the various spheres, women are participating actively and making notable contributions.
For example, there is an increase in the percentage of women in the workforce. There are increasing numbers of female business owners. Major problems persist as women are still a minority in the government, with women constituting only about 3.9% of the National Assembly. In addition, there is disproportionately inadequate education of girls in indigent parts of Nigeria, with female net attendance for secondary school being only 49%, and even as low as 12% in the northwestern region (UNICEF).
The aim should be to ensure that everyone is educated, regardless of their gender. Women play a vital role in building a nation. As mentioned before, a nation whose aim is growth and progress can only achieve half its goal without women. A society’s level of civilisation can be seen by the rate of female participation in decision-making.
Women’s voices are now being heard as they strive to eradicate prejudice and stereotypes of all forms. Women who achieve in spite of these barriers should be celebrated, which will, in turn, encourage other women to pursue their dreams. When high-achieving citizens are in the majority, it reflects on the general state of the country. Until women are fully included in nation-building, Nigeria will be celebrating independence without truly achieving it.
“One thing about Nigerian women — we achieve.”
~ Jola of ISWIS podcast
