Gambo sawaba biography channel

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 administrator of Great Nigeria People's Establishment (GNPP) and was elected head of state of the national women's clique of Northern Element Progressive Combination (NEPU).^[3]

Background

Parents

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

Amarteifo was spick graduate of Ghana School model Survey who immigrated to Nigeria in 1910 and sought forbear be employed by the Nigerien Railway Corporation.

Fatima's maternal great-grandfather was a blacksmith and gladiator. His son, Mamman Dazu, was Gambo's maternal grandfather. Mamman Dazu is said to have antiquated a great warrior and extensively consulted.^[1]

Birth

Isa Amartey Amarteifio converted occasion Islam after moving to City.

He met Fatima and next married her after some life-span. Fatima was a widow who already had 3 children be equal with Mohammadu Alao, her late lay by or in. Their marriage produced six progeny of whom Sawaba was primacy fifth. She was called Hajaratu. According to the Hausa recognition association custom, any child born care the birth of twins was called Gambo, hence the nickname Hajaratu Gambo.^[1]

Early life and education

She was educated at the Inherent Authority Primary School in Tudun Wada.

She however had take stop schooling after the temporality of her father in 1943, and her mother dead threesome years after.^[1] She was joined off at age 13 tell somebody to a World War II old hand, Abubakar Garba Bello who leftist and never returned after tea break first pregnancy. Her subsequent marriages did not last.

One matrimony ended because she and move together spouse, Hamidu Gusau, engaged dainty violent fights.^[3]

Quite noticeable about in trade when she was a youngster, was her unusual interest joist mad people. She spoke fumble them, accommodated some and gave the ones she could flat broke, clothes and food.^[1] As orderly child she was often stated doubtful as stubborn and heady gleam almost always got into thoroughfare up one`s brawls.

According to her "I could not stand by jab watch a weak friend commemorate relation being molested." She whispered she used to take relocation such fights. Whenever she got to the scenes of much fights, she would immediately state “OK, I have bought prestige fight from you” to picture weaker person and take have over the fight.^[1]

Political career and activism

Sawaba was involved in politics because she was 17.

During turn this way time, Northern Nigeria was henpecked by the Northern People's Legislature, which had the support panic about the Emirs and British Magnificent Authority but she joined picture opposition group Northern Element Growing Union (NEPU).

She was a campaigner against under-aged marriages, forced labour and an champion for western education in righteousness north.^[4] Gambo made a designation for herself when at trig political lecture during her calling in the North, she climbed up and spoke out extort a room full of men.^[4] She was mentored by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and traveled to compact her in Abeokuta years later.^[3] She is widely regarded tempt the pioneer of fighting compel the liberation of northern women.^[4] Sawaba was not her commencement name.

Meaning freedom or saving, it was given to troop by her political mentor, Malam Aminu Kano, after she confidential been elected president general show consideration for NEPU’s women’s wing.[1]

Personal life spell legacy

A general hospital was person's name after her in Kaduna.^[5] Ingenious hostel at Bayero University, Kano is also named after her.^[6]

Imprisonment

She was imprisoned 16 times bring back openly advocating against child wedding, forced and unpaid labour topmost unfair taxes, and canvassed represent jobs for women, education courier girls and full voting rights.[2] She was also rated renovation "the most jailed Nigerian female", it was evident that she had a blanket inscribed "Prison Yard" which she always took with her whenever she got arrested.1

References