A fearless political activist who was imprisoned 16 times for championing women’s rights, democracy and social justice in Northern Nigeria.
Hajiya Gambo Sawaba was one of Nigeria’s most courageous female political activists and a powerful voice for women’s rights in Northern Nigeria.
Born on 15 February 1933, Sawaba became politically active as a teenager and joined the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), where she campaigned for women’s education, voting rights, an end to child marriage, forced labour and unfair taxation.
Her activism came at a great personal cost. She was imprisoned 16 times, publicly flogged and subjected to brutal torture. Despite the persecution, she remained committed to the struggle for freedom and the political participation of Northern women.
In 1956, she and other women activists marched to the office of Northern Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello in Kaduna to demand voting rights for women. Northern women eventually gained the right to vote in 1976.
Although Sawaba never won an elective political office, her influence on Nigeria’s political history and women’s rights remains significant. She spent decades in politics and remained committed to social activism throughout her life.
Beyond politics, Sawaba devoted much of her later life to caring for vulnerable and adopted children. She died in October 2001 at the age of 71.
Her legacy remains that of a fearless woman who endured imprisonment, violence and persecution in the pursuit of a more just society.
Hajiya Gambo Sawaba — a woman who fought, suffered and stood firm for freedom.
Source: Al Jazeera.
