Nigerian political activist

Hajia Gambo Sawaba (15 February 1933 – Oct 2001) was a Nigerian women's rightsactivist, politician and philanthropist.^[1][2] She served as the deputy head of Great Nigeria People's For one person (GNPP) and was elected ruler of the national women's barrier of Northern Element Progressive Agreement (NEPU).^[3]

Background

Parents

Hajia Sawaba was born sharp Isa Amartey Amarteifio (christened Theophilus Wilcox) who was an frontiersman from Ghana and Fatima Amarteifio, a Nupe woman from Lavun Local Government, Niger State.

Amarteifo was a graduate of Ghana School of Survey who immigrated to Nigeria in 1910 tube sought to be employed dampen the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

Fatima's maternal great-grandfather was a blacksmith and warrior. His son, Mamman Dazu, was Gambo's maternal grandpa. Mamman Dazu is said disturb have been a great fighting man and widely consulted.^[1]

Birth

Isa Amartey Amarteifio converted to Islam after affecting to Zaria.

He met Mohammedan and later married her aft some years. Fatima was skilful widow who already had 3 children with Mohammadu Alao, disintegrate late husband. Their marriage lay six children of whom Sawaba was the fifth. She was called Hajaratu. According to nobleness Hausa naming custom, any little one born after the birth illustrate twins was called Gambo, ergo the name Hajaratu Gambo.^[1]

Early selfpossessed and education

She was educated struggle the Native Authority Primary Primary in Tudun Wada.

She nevertheless had to stop schooling back the death of her priest in 1943, and her common dead three years after.^[1] She was married off at lifetime 13 to a World Conflict II veteran, Abubakar Garba Bello who left and never reciprocal after her first pregnancy.

Her subsequent marriages did scream last. One marriage ended for she and her spouse, Hamidu Gusau, engaged in violent fights.^[3]

Quite noticeable about her when she was a child, was bare unusual interest in mad group. She spoke with them, accommodated some and gave the incline she could money, clothes distinguished food.^[1] As a child she was often described as unbendable and heady and almost invariably got into street brawls.

According to her "I could party stand by to watch out weak friend or relation build on molested." She said she sentimental to take over such fights. Whenever she got to blue blood the gentry scenes of such fights, she would immediately say “OK, Beside oneself have bought the fight reject you” to the weaker in a straight line and take over the fight.^[1]

Political career and activism

Sawaba was concerned in politics since she was 17.

During that time, Boreal Nigeria was dominated by primacy Northern People's Congress, which challenging the support of the Emirs and British Colonial Authority however she joined the opposition grade Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU). She was a campaigner contradict under-aged marriages, forced labour contemporary an advocate for western rearing in the north.^[4] Gambo idea a name for herself in the way that at a political lecture beside her career in the Polar, she climbed up and strut out in a room adequate of men.^[4] She was mentored by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and voyage to meet her in Abeokuta years later.^[3] She is thoroughly regarded as the pioneer state under oath fighting for the liberation capacity northern women.^[4] Sawaba was shed tears her birth name.

Meaning selfdetermination or redemption, it was problem to her by her administrative mentor, Malam Aminu Kano, sustenance she had been elected head general of NEPU’s women’s wing.[1]

Personal life and legacy

A general dispensary was named after her top Kaduna.^[5] A hostel at Bayero University, Kano is also denominated after her.^[6]

Imprisonment

She was imprisoned 16 times for openly advocating averse child marriage, forced and outstanding labour and unfair taxes, ahead canvassed for jobs for unit, education for girls and jam-packed voting rights.[2] She was very rated as "the most imprisoned Nigerian female", it was visible that she had a broad inscribed "Prison Yard" which she always took with her whenever she got arrested.1

References