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Nigeria has been blessed with extraordinary women across different fields. Dora Akunyili, Chimamanda Adichie and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will be remembered for their vast achievements. But one woman in our history books appears relegated to merely being the first Nigerian woman to drive a car.
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, once described as the “Lioness of Lisabi”, was an activist, a politician, a teacher and a women’s rights advocate. Let’s take a look at some of her exploits.
The first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School
It’s not weird in this age to have more girls than boys in a classroom, but this wasn’t always the case. Ransome-Kuti, born in 1900 as Frances Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas, was the first female student to be admitted into Abeokuta Grammar School — the first grammar school in Nigeria. She enrolled as a student in 1914, the same year five other female students joined the school.
She founded the Abeokuta Women’s Union (AWU)
In 1932, after her education in London and her marriage to Reverend Israel Ransome-Kuti, she founded the Abeokuta Ladies Club (ALC) which was exclusive to only western-educated women.
However, the club gradually became more feminist and political. By 1944, it finally became open to market women who were illiterate and suffering under colonial rule. The club became open to all Abeokuta women in 1946 and changed its name to the Abeokuta Women’s Union (AWU).
In 1918, colonial rule brought changes that made life particularly difficult for everyone, especially for women. One of these changes was a tax imposed on women considered to be of marriageable age and affected girls who were as young as 14 years old. They were required to pay a tax of three shillings yearly.
Another problematic policy was the food price control tax placed on market women. When they defaulted on these payments, the women were beaten, stripped or even arrested.
By 1948, the women had finally had enough. Since protests were banned, they gathered at the palace of the then-traditional ruler of Abeokuta, Oba Ladapo Ademola II, for “picnics” and “festivals”. Ransome-Kuti taught the protesters how to deal with the tear gas thrown at them.
Day after day, the protesting women sang war chants calling for the abolition of taxes. They also demanded the removal of Oba Ladapo Ademola II for implementing the colonial policies. Eventually, the women won the drawn-out battle as the colonisers removed the taxes and the king abdicated his throne for two years.
She was the only woman in Nigeria’s 1947 delegation to London
Nigerians often celebrate men like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe and others like them for their role in the country’s struggle for independence. But many people don’t know Ransome-Kuti was a member of the 1947 National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) delegation to London to table demands before our colonisers.
While in the United Kingdom, she stirred things up with an article she used to blame colonial rule for the political and economical marginalisation of Nigerian women.
She’s the only Nigerian woman to receive the Lenin Peace Prize
Ransome-Kuti travelled far and wide, and gave lectures everywhere she went to highlight the struggles of Nigerian women and campaign for their rights. In recognition of her efforts, she won the Lenin Peace Prize in 1970.
She’s a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)
After AWU’s win against tax impositionin 1948, Ransome-Kuti created the Nigerian Women’s Union (NWU) to support women’s rights across the country. She set up branches around Nigeria and ensured educational opportunities for girls and women. She also worked towards improving the participation of Nigerian women in politics. And the government named her a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 1965 to appreciate her hard work
As we already know, Ransome-Kuti passed much of her activism onto her third child, the famous Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Unfortunately, during a military raid of her son’s house in 1978, soldiers threw her out of the two-storey building, and the injuries she sustained claimed her life at 78.
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti lived a full life and was passionate about Nigerian women and their representation in the country. With everything she achieved, it’s a great disservice if we remember her only for her motor skills or simply as “Fela’s mother”.
Yeah we know, the economy is bad. Things are rough. Buhari and Emefiele are tag-teaming to show us pepper. Liquid cash no too dey again and you’re just managing your ride. But it gets to a point where you just have to let go of your car. It has seen many seasons and been through thick and thin and it is time to retire it. At this point, it has just refused to continue life with you again. Here are 7 signs to let you know it’s time to say goodbye to your jalopy.
1. The engine is louder than your radio
At this point, you need to let go and let God.
2. The AC is blowing hot summer vibes
And there seems to be no way to repair
3. It breaks down weekly
You have to applaud the consistency.
4. People hear gunshot when you drive by
Your backfire can give heart attack
5. Puffing out more smoke than a shisha lounge
When you pass, people are not sure if its smoke or harmattan is back.
One year ago, we left Nigeria for an 80-day adventure across West Africa. Something is coming. Unshared stories. New perspectives. Limited series. 10 episodes. Jollofroad.com
According to car salesmen, first-time buyers usually do not anticipate the hidden costs that come along with owning a car. They think it’s just enough to buy, not understanding that the journey is just starting.
The general wisdom around for people seeking to buy a car is that the buying is not the issue and that maintenance is where the frustration resides.
So, being curious about how much money it really does cost, I spoke to a relatively young car owner and here’s what he said:
1) Insurance: N3000.
Insurance is important especially in this country where people are moving anyhow. You can just be on your own and someone will hit you out of nowhere. There are two types of insurance – comprehensive and third party insurance so I am on the cheaper one. Which is a third party and that costs N3,000.
2) Fuel: N5,000 per week.
This is even because my car is fuel economic and I don’t go out too much. Some people that have to go long distances spend twice that amount every week. So, mine is like N20,000 on fuel a month.
3) Servicing: N8,500 every other month.
Well, my car is old, the roads are bad. That means I have to service my car regularly if I don’t want it to die on me. The mechanic changes the oil, checks the brakes and makes sure there are no weird sounds. If it’s just basic maintenance and no other fault, N8,500 does the job. But if there are other issues, stress begins.
4) Papers: Not too sure. Around N10,000.
If you have connect, you can do this for a year but I don’t know anyone so I do mine every 6 months. I think my road worthiness costs N4,500. The whole thing plus money for boys I think costs about N10,000.
5) Miscellaneous: Any amount.
See, I have had to change my horn twice and it cost me N9,500 on both occasions. I mean it was different issues but still the same horn. So, you can just wake up and the car is making a strange noise. I have also had to spend N27,000 remodeling the front part of the car.
6) Sorting people because you have a car: Any amount.
Someone tells you how to park, they want money. Someone opens the gate, they want money. All these things add up over time. There is the assumption that once you have a ride, you have arrived.
Total:
When you do the total, that’s like N360,000 at the end of the year and this is a conservative estimate with the hope that nothing dramatic happens.
We are five months into 2019 already. 127 days raced by just like that.
Wow!!!
Come to think of it, only a short while back, we were basking in the euphoria of ushering in the New Year with our family and friends. Not forgetting the traditional listing of New Year resolutions and goals to help slay this year.
Speaking of resolutions, a few friends shared theirs and we were struck at the range and diversity of the ambitions. Here are some you might find fascinating too:
Resolutions are a great way to make positive changes in our lives. But really, how many people have been able to keep their resolutions? They can be hard to keep. The harsh reality is that approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February.
The way to win is to start by doing something about just one goal at a time. Don’t waste your time thinking about why it may not work, or you won’t do it. Just pick one goal like selling your current car and buying a better one. That’s one resolution successfully achieved. Celebrate your win and move on to the next!
Did you know that between January and April, over ten thousand people have upgraded – either by buying a pocket-friendly ride or swapping their “old” cars for a new golden one. There are various car options to fit “slim & fat” budgets alike. So, tick off that plan to get yourself a new ride now.
You can visit www.cars45.com to sell or swap your current car for a much more durable option. Also, visit www.carsbazr.com to get verified cars at the best price now.
