Nigerian Youth Movement

Last updated

The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) was Nigeria's first genuine nationalist organization, founded in Lagos in 1934 at Stanley Orogun, with Professor Eyo Ita as the founding father and many others, including Samuel L. Akintola, Chief Shonibare, and Chief Bode. [1] Ernest Ikoli, the first editor of the Daily Times of Nigeria , launched in the month of June 1926, was another founding member. [2] The group's immediate concerns included the supposedly inferior status of Yaba College, appointments of Africans to senior positions in the civil service and discriminations against the African truck drivers. However, organization at first, had generally moderate views and pledged to support and co-operate with the governor. [3] The president was Dr Kofo Abayomi. Ernest Ikoli was vice president and H.O. Davies was the secretary. It was the first multi-ethnic organization in Nigeria and its programme was to foster political advancement of the country and enhance the socio-economic status of the Nigerian citizens. [4] Adeyemo Alakija later became President of the NYM. [5]

Contents

The movement acquired national outlook and became a strong national movement, when Nnamdi Azikiwe and H.O. Davies returned to Nigeria in 1937 and 1938 respectively and consequently joined the movement . N.Y.M became the first authentic Nigerian nationalist organization to be formed in the country. Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Akintola were other prominent members of the movement, which membership was opened to all Nigerians, especially those that were residents in Lagos. [6]

Growing Militancy

When Nnamdi Azikiwe launched the West African Pilot in 1937, dedicated to fighting for independence from British colonial rule, the newspaper was an immediate success. [7] Zik, an Igbo man, found a ready-audience among the non-Yoruba people of Nigeria, including many in Lagos state. He introduced Pan-African consciousness to the NYM, and expanded its membership with large numbers of people, who had previously been excluded. H.O. Davies returned to Nigeria in 1938, from a spell at the London School of Economics (LSE), becoming a leading figure in the movement, until he resigned in 1951. At the LSE, Davies had roomed with Jomo Kenyatta and had absorbed the socialist views of Harold Laski. [8]

In October 1938, the NYM won elections for the Lagos Town Council, ending the dominance of Herbert Macaulay and the National Democratic Party. [9] The newly self-confident members of the Nigerian Youth Movement objected to the system of indirect rule through traditional tribal leaders. The Youth Charter published in 1938 said: "We are opposed to the term "Indirect Rule" literally as well as in principle. Honest trusteeship implies direct British Rule with a view to ultimate self-government..." [10] The charter set out goals of unifying the tribes of Nigeria to work towards a common ideal, and educating public opinion to develop the national consciousness needed to reach this ideal. The goal was spelled out as complete autonomy within the British Empire on a basis of equal partnership with the other member states. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nnamdi Azikiwe</span> President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966

Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, commonly referred to as Zik, was a Nigerian politician, statesman, and revolutionary leader who served as the 3rd and first black governor-general of Nigeria from 1960 to 1963 and the first president of Nigeria during the First Nigerian Republic (1963–1966). He is widely regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism as well as one of the major driving forces behind the country's independence in 1960.

The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) (later changed to the National Convention of Nigerian Citizens), was a Nigerian nationalist political party from 1944 to 1966, during the period leading up to independence and immediately following independence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert Macaulay</span> Nigerian politician

Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, surveyor, engineer, architect, journalist, and musician and is considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladoke Akintola</span> Nigerian politician (1910–1966)

Chief Samuel Ládòkè Akíntọ́lá otherwise known as S.L.A. was a Nigerian politician, aristocrat, orator, and lawyer. He served as Oloye Aare Ona Kakanfo XIII of Yorubaland and served as premier of Western Nigeria from independence in 1960 till his assassination in 1966.

The Daily Times is a newspaper with headquarters in Lagos. At its peak, in the 1970s, it was one of the most successful locally owned businesses in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Nigerian Republic</span> First republican Governance in Nigeria

The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution. The country's government was based on a federal form of the Westminster system. The period between 1 October 1960, when the country gained its independence and 15 January 1966, when the first military coup d’état took place, is also generally referred to as the First Republic. The first Republic of Nigeria was ruled by different leaders representing their regions as premiers in a federation during this period.

Ernest Sissei Ikoli (1893–1960) was a Nigerian politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist; he was the first editor of the Daily Times. He was the president of the Nigerian Youth Movement and in 1942, represented Lagos in the Legislative Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adeyemo Alakija</span> Nigerian lawyer, politician and businessman

Oloye Sir Adeyemo Alakija, was a Nigerian lawyer, politician and businessman. He served as a member of the Nigerian legislative council for nine years starting in 1933. In 1942, he became a member of the governor's Executive Council. Alakija was president of Egbe Omo Oduduwa from 1948 until his death in 1952.

Eyo Ita (1903–1972) was a Nigerian educationist and politician from Creek Town, in present-day Cross River State, who was the leader of the Eastern Government of Nigeria in 1951 and the first Professor Nigeria ever had. He was one of the earliest Nigerian students who studied in the United States instead of the frequent route of studying in the United Kingdom. He was a deputy national president of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Hezekiah Oladipo Davies, Q.C. was a leading Nigerian nationalist, founding father, lawyer, journalist, trade unionist, thought leader and politician during the nation's movement towards independence in 1960 and immediately afterwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Akisanya</span>

Samuel Akisanya was a Nigerian trade unionist and nationalist based in Lagos, Nigeria during the colonial era, one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement. He was also the Oba of Isara, an office which he held from 1941 until his death. He is today widely regarded as the greatest king in the history of the city.

Sir Kofoworola Adekunle "Kofo" Abayomi, KBE was a Nigerian politician who was one of the founders of the nationalist group, the Nigerian Youth Movement, in 1934 and went on to have a distinguished public service career. His last major public assignment was as chairman of the Lagos Executive Development Board from 1958 until 1966.

John Oni Akerele was a Nigerian doctor, Nigeria's first indigenous surgeon.

The West African Pilot was a newspaper launched in Nigeria by Nnamdi Azikiwe ("Zik") in 1937, dedicated to fighting for independence from British colonial rule. It is most known for introducing popular journalism within Nigeria. The main focus of the newspaper was to promote Nigerian independence from colonial rule. Football was a topic often used within the media to promote these various arguments of independence. With humanistic language and powerful ideas, the West African Pilot successfully promoted the humanity of African workers in this colonized world. The newspaper dismissed the idea that sports and politics are to be separated, further supporting African's connection to the game and adding specific cultural impact to the game itself; this supported a new kind of identity pertinent to the Nigerian people. Through fictional stories and football centered symbolism, the newspaper was even said to have, "created the possibility of a new form of imagined community", setting the stage for how a modern society should be.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigerian nationalism</span>

Nigerian nationalism asserts that Nigerians as a nation should promote the cultural unity of Nigerians. Nigerian nationalism is territorial nationalism and emphasizes a cultural connection of the people to the land, particularly the Niger and the Benue Rivers. It first emerged in the 1920s under the influence of Herbert Macaulay, who is considered to be the founder of Nigerian nationalism. It was founded because of the belief in the necessity for the people living in the British colony of Nigeria of multiple backgrounds to unite as one people to be able to resist colonialism. The people of Nigeria came together as they recognized the discrepancies of British policy. "The problem of ethnic nationalism in Nigeria came with the advent of colonialism. This happened when disparate, autonomous, heterogeneous and sub-national groups were merged to form a nation. Again, the colonialists created structural imbalances within the nation in terms of socio-economic projects, social development and establishment of administrative centres. This imbalance deepened the antipathies between the various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria ." The Nigerian nationalists' goal of achieving an independent sovereign state of Nigeria was achieved in 1960 when Nigeria declared its independence and British colonial rule ended. Nigeria's government has sought to unify the various peoples and regions of Nigeria since the country's independence in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitoye Ajasa</span> Nigerian lawyer and colonial legislator

Sir Kitoye Ajasa was a Nigerian lawyer and legislator during the colonial period. He was conservative, and worked closely with the colonial authorities. He thought that progress would only be possible if Africans adopted European ideas and institutions. Ajasa was one of the leaders of the People's Union, and was the founder of the conservative newspaper the Nigerian Pioneer. He was the first Nigerian to be knighted.

The People's Union was an association in Lagos, Nigeria created in 1908 to promote the welfare of the city's residents regardless of race or religion. Its leaders included educated and traditional elites. An early goal was to stop a project to bring piped water into the city. All residents would pay taxes to cover the costs, but the wealthy Europeans and Africans with piped houses would be the main beneficiaries. The union lost popular support when the educated elites accepted a compromise on the water project in 1915. The People's Union was revived to fight an election in 1923 and continued until 1928, but could not compete with the more populist Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1940 Lagos by-election</span>

A by-election was held for the Lagos seat in the Legislative Council of Nigeria in 1940. It followed the death of incumbent Olayinka Alakija, who had been a member of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM). Jibril Martin of the NYM was elected with 64% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1941 Lagos by-election</span>

A by-election was held for the Lagos seat in the Legislative Council of Nigeria on 5 March 1941. It was required after the incumbent member Kofo Abayomi of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) resigned in order to move to the United Kingdom to take up a Rhodes Scholarship in ophthalmology. Although Ernest Ikoli of the NYM was elected with 56% of the vote, the controversy caused by the election led to the eventual demise of the party.

Habib Raji Abdllah was a Nigerian nationalist who was General Secretary of the Northern Elements Progressive Association and was president of the Zikist Movement. He was one of the pioneer nationalists from the Northern region of Nigeria.

References

  1. ↑ "The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) – ClassHall.com" . Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  2. ↑ Coleman 1971, pp. 191.
  3. ↑ Coleman 1971, pp. 218.
  4. ↑ "The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) – ClassHall.com" . Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  5. ↑ Sklar 2004, pp. 114.
  6. ↑ "The Nigerian Youth Movement (1934-1951) •". 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
  7. ↑ Uche 1989, pp. 94–96.
  8. ↑ Coleman 1971, pp. 224.
  9. 1 2 Coleman 1971, pp. 225.
  10. ↑ Coleman 1971, pp. 165–166.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.