Online Poll - Most Prominent Founding Fathers of Nigeria

An online magazine asked its readers to list top founding fathers of Nigeria. 

Below, is the list of 10 most prominent Nigerian leaders. The list is in no particular order. Interestingly (hardly surprising?) all of the fathers belong to the period of struggle for the independence of Nigeria.

1. CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO
6 March 1909 - 9 May 1987

Awolowo was the first Premier of the Western Region from 1954 to 1960. Under his administration programs that provided free health care for children and free universal primary education were launched. He was also the official Leader of the Opposition in the Federal parliament to the Balewa government from 1960 to 1963. Balewa was a promoter of a federal system in Nigeria, advocating for local autonomy based on ethno-linguistic identity, which laid the foundation for creation of 36 contemporary states in Nigeria. 

2. AHMADU BELLO12 June 1910 - 15 January 1966

Bello was the first premier of the Northern Nigeria region from 1954-1966. Like Balewa, Bello was a prominent leader of the North. Under his leadership, the Northern People's Congress, won the pre-independence 1959 parliamentary elections. He even refused the post of national Prime Minister, which would have required moving to the South. 

3. ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWADecember 1912 - 15 January 1966

Balewa was the first prime minister of independent Nigeria. He also was a driving force behind the set up of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) (later the African Union). Being from the North and promoting the interests of the region, Balewa at the same time advocated for national unity.

4. BENJAMIN NNAMDI AZIKIWE16 November 1904 – 11 May 1996

Azikiwe was Governor-General of independent Nigeria from 1960 to 1963. He became the first president of the country in 1963 and served until ousted by a coup in 1966. Before that, in 1944, Azikiwe co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) alongside Herbert Macaulay, and in 1955, he founded the University of Nigeria. 

5. HERBERT MACAULAY 14 November 1864 – 7 May 1946

Macaulay was one of the first Nigerian nationalists fighting for independence from the British rule. He founded first Nigerian political party - the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) - in June 24, 1923, which won all the seats in the elections of 1923, 1928 and 1933. 

 

6. CHIEF ANTHONY ENAHORO 22 July 1923 - 15 December 2010

In March 1953, Enahoro moved the historic motion in favor of granting independence to Nigeria. Although the motion was rejected by an overwhelming majority of the northern leaders in the House, it inspired other nationalists to intensify their struggle, which brought the desired results in 1960.

7. JOSEPH TARKA10 July 1932 – 30 March 1980

Tarka was one of the founding members of the United Middle Belt Congress, which dedicated to protecting and advocating for the country's Middle Belt.

8. GENERAL MURTALA MUHAMMED 8 November 1938 – 13 February 1976

On July 29, 1975 he became the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces following a military coup. He reformed the civil service, outlined a program that included the creation of seven more states, the drafting of a new constitution, and the organization of state and national elections as a prelude to a return to civilian rule. During his rule, the Federal capital of Nigeria changed from Lagos to Abuja. 

9. ALVAN IKOKU 1 August 1900 – 18 November 1971

He was an educator, activist and politician, who fostered government interest in the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). 44 of the Union's proposals amending educational system were accepted by the Legislative Council's. In 1950s, Ikoku encountered resistance when the Colonial Government kept reject the NUT's recommendations to introduce uniform education in Nigeria. However, after national independence, these recommendations became the basis for education policy.

10. AMINU KANO 1920 - 17 April 1983

 

Kano was a Muslim politician and Northern leader of the opposition movement against the British rule in the 1940s. He died just a few months before the August 1983 presidential election in which he was a candidate.

 

Source: Naij.com