Prominent Nigerians




Margaret Ekpo

Full Name: Margaret Ekpo
State of Origin: Akwa Ibom.
Ethnicity: Efik.
Date of Birth: July 27, 1914  
Died: Sep 21, 2006 (age 92)
Cause of Death: Natural causes (Old Age)
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Married.
Spouse(s): Dr John Udo Ekpo
Parents: Okoroafor Obiasulor and Inyang Eyo Aniemewue
Residence: Aba, Nigeria
Language: Efik and English
Religion: Christian
Alma mater: Dublin Institute of Technology and Sewing Institute in Aba.
Occupation: Politician, Teacher, Activist, Women's rights activist
Position(S): Women's rights activist
Political Party : N.C.N.C
 
INTRODUCTION
Margaret Ekpo was born on July 27, 1914 into the family of Inyang Eyo Aniemewue from the Royal stock of King Eyo Honestry II and Okoroafor Obiasulor native of Agulu-Uzo-Igbo near Awka in Anambra State
She reached standard six of the school leaving certificate in 1934 but she could not further her education to secondary school lever because she lost her father in the same year.
Her goals of further education in teachers training was also put on hold.So she then started working as a pupil teacher in elementary schools.
 Margaret Aniemewue got married to Dr John Ekpo, in 1938 and she became Margaret Ekpo.
Her husband Dr John Ekpo was from the Ibibio ethnic group who are predominant in Akwa Ibom State, while Margaret was of Igbo and Efik heritage. After their wedding both of them moved to Aba.
She later died on Sep 21, 2006 at age of 92.
Margaret died on Thursday September 21, 2006, at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital at age of 92.
EDUCATION
She reached standard six of the school leaving certificate in 1934, he pursed for a while and in 1946, she had the opportunity to study abroad at what is now Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin Ireland. She earned a diploma in domestic science and on her return to Nigeria she established a Domestic Science and Sewing Institute in Aba.
CAREER 
Women's Right Activist
Member, Regional House of Assembly
In 1945, Ekpo began to becoming involved in politics after her husband became dissatisfied with colonial administrations treatment of indigenous Nigerian doctors at the Aba General Hospital. As a civil servant, he was unable to attend meetings organised to discuss these discriminatory practices and fight the cultural and racial imbalance. Ekpo went on his behalf and then attended a political rally at which she was the only woman. She heard speeches by erbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Mazi Mbonu Ojike urging Nigerians to claim their independence from Great Britain and took up the nationalist struggle. Ekpo set about devising ways to encourage women in Aba to participate political rallies. She tried to get more women to join the Aba Market Women Association so that she could pass on information from meetings to them, but their husbands were reluctant to allow this. After World War II, salt was difficult to get a hold of and Ekpo used this to her advantage. She bought all the bags of salt, giving her control of its sales and then ordered that only women who were a member of the association could be sold to. As salt was a necessary item, all the men allowed their wives to register.

In 1946, Ekpo’s husband was taken to Ireland for medical attention and Ekpo used her time there to study for a diploma in Domestic Economics which she received in 1948 from the Rathmine School of Domestic Economics in Dublin, Ireland (now the Dublin Institute of Technology). On their return to Nigeria, Ekpo founded a domestic science institute in Aba, Abia State. Ekpo trained girls in dressmaking and home economics at the institute. She continued her activism, and by the end of the 40’s she had organised a Market Woman Association in Aba to unionise women in the city. The organisation promoted female solidarity as a way to fight for the economic rights of women and to expand their political rights. She also joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) to fight for decolonisation.

In 1949, Ekpo joined Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti in protesting the killings of leaders protesting colonial practices at an Enugu coal mine. They organised a day of mourning for the victims, and were able to draw international attention to the incident. Ekpo made a speech at the event, and was subsequently arrested and threatened with deportation. The women of Aba were outraged, and threatened to set the town ablaze, leading to Ekpo’s release. During their time together, Ekpo and Ransome-Kuti discussed the need for women’s involvement in politics, and together they went on to tour the South Eastern region to encourage women to engage with politics.

In the early 1950’s, following the murder of Mrs. Onyia, a prison officer killed for rejecting the advances of a male colleague, Ekpo and the women of Aba stormed the Enugu Prisons Department demanding to see where the deceased was buried. Eventually, the body was released and the truth of the murder was uncovered, leading to the execution of the murderer and the reveal of the attempt to cover up the incident. In 1953, Ekpo was nominated by the NGNC to the regional House of Chiefs, and in 1954 she established the Aba Township Women’s Association, which she was able to turn into a political pressure group. A year later, women in Aba outnumbered male voters in a city wide election. In 1960, Ekpo became the President of the NCNC’s women’s wing after the previous president, Flora Nnamdi Azikiwe became First Lady. Together, Ekpo and Azikiwe had been responsible for the formation of the NCNC’s women’s wing. Ekpo led women in canvassing for party candidates across the country, forming a formidable campaign team.

In 1961, Ekpo won a seat in the Eastern Regional House of Assembly, becoming the first Aba woman in the position. She was able to use her position to continue to fight for issues affecting women, including the progress of women in economic and political matters and improving infrastructure so that it was easier for them to travel to markets. She was a Nigerian representative in Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in 1964; Nigeria representative, World Women’s International Domestic Federation Conference in 1963; Member of Parliament, Nigeria, 1960 –1966 and Women’s interest representative, Nigerian Constitutional Conference in 1960. After the First Republic ended following a military coup, Ekpo took on a less prominent role in politics.
Margaret Ekpo’s political career ended with the commencement of the Nigerian civil war. During the war, she was detained by Biafran authorities for three years. In spite of the long detention, under conditions which could best be described as deprived – at a point she became quite ill for lack of adequate feeding. Mrs. Margaret Ekpo remained unbowed, and never bitter. The reason for her arrest was not known, but it was said to do with her agitation for Calabar and Ogoja States to be carved out of the Eastern Nigeria. It was a trying time for her; however she accepted it as a sacrifice she had to make for the unity of Nigeria.

Madam Margaret Ekpo lived on a meager pension provided by the State Government. It was hardly adequate but she carries herself with much grace and fortitude. She was grateful to Nigeria former President Olusegun and his late wife, Stella Obasanjo, former Nigerian Leaders and other concerned Nigerians for honoring her and taking care of some of her material needs.

LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
Mrs. Ekpo, born of lgbo parentage, grew up in Creek Town, Calabar and Aba and finally settled down in Calabar.
She was married to a doctor named John Udo Ekpo in 1938.
On her successful marriage and motherhood
She had a wonderful married life she married a Doctor and that had children.
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT MARGARET EKPO
Women's rights activist in Nigeria who helped women insert themselves into the First Republic during the 1960's.
AWARDS, HONOURS, LAURELS AND RECOGNITIONS
Ekpo was one of three women appointed to the House of Chiefs, in the 1950s - besides Mrs. Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti (appointed into the Western Nigeria House of Chiefs) and Janet Mokelu (appointed along with Margaret Ekpo into the Eastern Nigeria House of Chiefs).
She went on to serve her nation in several other capacities; as the Nigerian representative to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference (1964), Nigerian representative to the World Women's International Domestic Federation Conference (1963), Member of Parliament Government of Nigeria (1960 - 1966), women's interest representative to the Nigerian Constitutional Conference (1960), a delegate to the Nigerian Constitutional Conference (1959), a delegate to the Nigerian Constitutional Conference (1953 and 1957), women's interest representative to the Eastern House of Chiefs, Nigeria (between 1954 and 1958) and member, Eastern House of Chiefs, Nigeria (between 1948 and 1966






Connect With Us