Today, October 1, Nigeria celebrates her Diamond Jubilee as it turns 60 years post-independence. It is a day that reminds every citizen about the dawn of the nation we call our country, a diverse nation with resilient and hardworking people. Nigerians have gone far and wide, impacting their communities and the world at large and as the saying goes, “we are only as strong as we are united, and as weak as we are divided”.

Despite the challenges and setbacks we have faced as a country, we see a ray of hope as we use this opportunity to recognize, celebrate and appreciate our Nigerian women as they have made remarkable impact in our country Nigeria.We put the spotlight on some of the women whose actions have left a significant impact on our history.It’s the time of the year when we reflect on the amazing women whose contributions to society, paved the way for women to keep rising and making impacts in the society.

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900 - 1978)

Funmilayo Ransome-Kutiwas an activist, teacher, political campaigner, and founder of the Nigerian Women’s Union. She was a total badass who went all out to fight for women’s rights including something as basic as driving.

She is the first woman to drive a car in the entire country. Apart from being one of the prominent leaders of her generation, she is also the mother of Afro-beat musician and political activist Fela Kuti.

Margaret Ekpo (1914–2006)

Margaret Ekpo was the first Nigeria female political activist. She is credited with helping women insert themselves into the First Republic. This refers to the period after Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, and January 15, 1966, when the first military coup d’état took place.

Virginia Etiaba (1942)

Virginia Etiaba was born 11 November 1942. She was the Governor of Anambra State, a state in south-east Nigeria, from November 2006 to February 2007. She is the first female governor in Nigeria’s history.

Sarah Nnadzwa Jibril (1945)

She is Nigeria’s first female presidential candidate both at the primaries and main elections. She contested to be president on four separate occasions. Jubril also served as the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on ethics and moral values.

Folake Solanke (1932)

She is the first woman to join the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN). 38 years later, women make up only 4.2% of the entire organization.

Ladi Dosei Kwali (1925–1984)

She is the pioneer of modern pottery in Nigeria. She is also the first and only Nigerian woman to appear on a currency note. She is the face on the N20 note. Nigeria’s most famous potter.

Florence Nwanzuruahu NkiruNwapa (1931 - 1993)

She is the first female writer in the country. She is also Africa’s first female novelist to have an internationally published work in the English language.

Kofo Ademola (1913 - 2002)

She is the first Nigerian woman to get an undergraduate degree from the Oxford University.

Elizabeth Abimbola Awoliyi(1910 - 1971)

Awoliyi is the first female physician to practice in Nigeria. She is also the first West African woman to earn a license of Royal Surgeon in Dublin.

General Aderonke Kale (1959-)

She is the first female army major-general in Nigeria. She enlisted in the army after becoming a medical doctor.

Adetowun Ogunsheye (1926)

She is Nigeria’s first female professor and the first female dean of a faculty.

Grace Alele Williams (1932)

Williams was one of the first Nigerian women to obtain a PhD in Mathematics. She is also the first female vice-chancellor in Nigeria.

Captain Chinyere Onyenaucheya (1970 )

Meet Nigeria’s first female pilot. She is also the first female commercial pilot in the nation.

Sandra Aguebor-Ekperuoh (the 1970)

Ekperuoh is the first female mechanic in Nigeria. She is empowering sexually abused and underprivileged women with her non-profit organization - the Lady Mechanic Initiative of Nigeria.

Ire Aderinokun (1991 )

The self-taught UI/UX Designer and Front-End Developer is the first Nigerian woman to become a Google development expert.

Agbani Darego (1982)

She is the first woman from Nigeria and Africa to win the Miss World crown.

Mosunmola Abudu (1964)

She is popularly known as Mo Abudu. She is the first woman to own a pan-African TV channel in Nigeria and the rest of the continent.

Tolulupe Arotile

Nigeria’s first combat helicopter pilot, Tolulupe Arotile, who was reported to have passed on in a Kaduna car crash on Tuesday 14, July 2020.
Beyond the titles, this 24 year old SHERO has proven to us that we are our only limitations to what we can achieve and become.

We raise our flag in celebration of every Nigerian woman. We wave our flag ?? in honour of your uniqueness, bravery and strength.

Happy Independence Day Nigeria

Read also; Great Women