Chief Mrs. Margaret Ekpo was a colossus of Nigerian Politics, a rare breed, a top woman organizer, a civil and political rights activist, a foremost political leader, a crusader for social justice, and one of the pioneers of women liberation in Nigeria. From a humble beginning, she rose to national fame and international limelight. She was born in Creek Town in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State to Inyang Eyo Aniemewue of King Ekpo Honesty II dynasty and Okoroafor Obiasulor lineage of Agulu-Ugo-Igbo Anambra State.
Education for girls at that time, and many years thereafter, was a rare and golden privilege. She enjoyed the benevolence of going to school and given, the little opportunity, she made it to standard six and obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1934. In the same year, she lost her father and that stalled her ambition for further education. In view of her outstanding performance in school, she was employed as a pupil teacher. In 1938, married Dr. John Udo Ekpo and the couple relocated to Aba. Once again, an opportunity for further education came her way and she proceeded to Rathmines School of Domestic Economics (Now DIT Aungier Street) Dublin, Ireland, where she obtained a Diploma in Domestic Science.
Upon her return to Nigeria, and in furtherance of her passion for education, the teaching profession and impartation of knowledge, Mrs. Ekpo set up a Domestic Science and Sewing Institute in Aba. She invested in the education of women and trained young girls in dress-making and home economics. Apart from the empowerment of women, Mrs. Margaret Ekpo also had strong interest in politics because it was the tool in the hands of colonial officials which was used to perpetrate injustice, discrimination and oppression. The colonial officials were notorious for discriminatory practices against the black population. Mrs. Ekpo opposed oppressive practices prevalent at that time, and other forms of injustice and prejudice by the colonial government.
She attended meetings of Nigerian political and nationalist leaders convened to address and confront these challenges; and often the only woman in such meetings. Most women at that time were traders and were at the receiving end of the oppressive tax policies of the colonial government. In order to make the voices of women against excessive and exploitative taxation heard, Mrs. Ekpo formed the Aba Market Association to prosecute her agenda of fighting for the economic, social, civil and political rights of women and the less privileged.
She built structures and evolved strategies to advance the cause of women; to demand for equal rights for women; and to end oppressive and discriminatory practices of the colonial government. The methods included boycotts and civil disobedience. Also, in order to ensure that her ideas and vision were not mere rhetoric, but genuine agitations which could be actualized, she joined the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), one of the leading political parties at that time.
Mrs. Margaret Ekpo served in various capacities, including the following: President of Women’s wing of the NCNC; Member, Regional House of Assembly from 1961 – 1965;
Nigerian Representative Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference 1964; Nigerian Representative – World Women’s International Domestic Federation Conference 1963; Member of Parliament Government of Nigeria (1960-1966); Women’s Interest Representative Nigerian Conference (1960); Delegate Nigerian Constitutional Conference (1953); Women’s Interest Representative – Eastern House of Chiefs (1954-1958); and Member – Eastern House of Chiefs, Nigeria (1948-1966). She is a recipient of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR). The Calabar international Airport was renamed Margaret Ekpo International Airport in 2001.
Add comment