EDITED BY
BOLANLE AWE M.A (St. Andrews) Ph.D (OXON). OFR.
(1st and 2nd Editions Published Jointly with Bookcraft Ltd, Ibadan).
Nigeria Women: A Historical
Perspective, is a collection of essays written by some outstanding
historians, edited by
Professor Bolanle Awe and first published in 1992. A new edition
of a book of such interesting historical dimension is
welcome as it will serve to provide a further outreach to that created
already by its predecessor.
It has often been said that Nigerians have no sense of history and
that they do not value their past. For the female populace, the
book, Nigerian Women: A Historical Perspective is a rebuttal of
the statement. Reading this collection of essays is like looking
at an instructive tapestry of the history of centuries past. Each
essayist has made a thorough
research into the historical background and the events occurring
at the period during which the woman (the subject matter) lived
and which, to a great extent, influenced her activities. Thus, we
are enabled to acknowledge from this tapestry, that there were outstanding
Nigerian women who were not lacking in vision, participated in the
political, economic and social activities in the prevailing rigid
male dominated society under which they lived and made remarkable
contributions to the
welfare of their communities.
The personalities selected for these essays were from a wide range
of ethnic groups and the periods of their lives range from the 16th
Century (Efunsetan Aniwura and Queen Kambassa) to the 20th Century
(Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Adunni Oluwole and Lady Oyinkan Abayomi).
There is much to learn from the lives of these women. As Professor
Bolanle Awe herself states in the introduction to this book, "they
provide an avenue for an understanding of the possibilities of their
(women's) involvement in modern development'.
It is said that a leader who merely points the way for his followers
(as to where they should go) leaves no footprints for them to follow.
These female activists have left indelible footprints for successive
generations.
Thus at the present time when great emphasis is placed on equal
rights and the empowerment of women, we could do well to read this
collection of essays for inspiration and guidance for qualitative
leadership.
I have known Bolanle Awe (nee Fajembola) from her school days and
over the years, I have watched with great interest, her many excellent
achievements. Today, she is one of Nigeria's leading women in scholarship.
I feel proud to be associated with this book.
Lady Ademola
Lagos, April 2001.
By the skilful blending of essentially primary sources such as oral
traditions, personal interviews and occasional written evidence...
the contributors to this volume have attempted to analyse the kinds
of contributions, which women have made to the Nigerian society
in the past. The lives of these famous women raise issues, which
are pertinent to the development of Nigeria and the effective participation
of women in its future.
- BOLANLE AWE
-
IN
PURSUIT OF NATIONHOOD: SELECTED WRITINGS ON POLITICS IN NIGERIA
BY
‘TAYO AKPATA B.A (Hon) HULL LL.D (Hon),
Benin.
This book is a collection
of papers written over a period of some four decades, since the 1950s,
by 'Tayo Akpata, a foremost educationist, political activist and publisher,
on myriad of problems of national integration and development crises
in Nigeria. It is an invaluable addition to the few existing reminiscences.
Okhaemwen (Chief) Osayande Omotayo Akpata, THE OGIESOBA of BENIN KINGDOM,
is a consummate nationalist. If there be one enduring strand in the
TAYO AKPATA sinew, it is precisely that from his very early beginnings,
the man TAYO (as he is fondly known to and called by his close friends
and acquaintances alike) has been a tenacious fighter for a truly
united and progressive Nigeria as an on-going polity in perpetuity.
The foregoing is the reason, above all else, why the burden of IN
PURSUIT OF NATIONHOOD: Selected Writings On Politics In Nigeria, is
to clearly advocate that the reconfiguration f Nigeria along ethno-linguistic
lines, euphemistically referred to as "ethnic nationalities",
in the name of "true" federalism seems neither feasible
nor desirable, Akpata poignantly submits in the book "that there
is no peaceful way of dissolving a country like Nigeria through confederation
or otherwise'.
"With every sense of responsibility, I would advise teachers
of History and politics in our institutions of higher learning to
replace the handouts they sell to student with books like this."
- EDWIN MADUNAGU
"Tayo Akpata has brought a well honed intellect to bear on the
country's myriad problems. He demonstrates to us how history repeats
itself and offers well reasoned, if not always uncontroversial proposals."
- PROFESSOR AYO BANJO
AND
CONTEMPORARY STATE LAND MATTERS IN NIGERIA
(THE CASE OF LAGOS STATE)
BY
FEMI OKUNNU LL.B (Hon) Lond, SAN, CON.
Contemporary State
Land Matters In Nigeria (The Case of Lagos State) reviews the land
tenure system in Nigeria with particular reference to the claim
of the Federal Government to ownership of state land in several
parts of Nigeria using Lagos State as a case study. The book examines
critically the Land Use Act 1978 and Decree No.52 of 1993 vis-à-vis
the Laws of Lagos State reading land ownership, and delves into
contentious cases such as the Osborne Road /Ilubirin Foreshore land
expropriated by the Federal Government without recourse to historical
facts and legal antecedents.
Such sheer display of audacity by; the Federal Government, laying
claim to ownership of State Land in several parts of Nigeria, is
seen by the author as posing real threat to federalism. He therefore
expresses his undying commitment to the pursuit of justice and equity
amongst the States of Nigeria.
The book, which is in three parts, considers the various land laws
at the federal and state levels, Lagos State in particular, and
advocates a negotiated settlement of the issue of state land in
the former Federal Territory of Lagos, which,
according to him, is a fallout of the state's creation in 1967.
ALHAJI LATEEF OLUFEMI OKUNNU LL.B. (HON) LOND. SAN, CON, a distinguished
legal practitioner and publicist, was Federal Commissioner for Works
and Housing from 1967 to 1974.
Born in Lagos on February 19, 1933, he was educated at the Ansar-Ud-Deen
School, Alakoro, Lagos (1938-'47), King's College, Lagos (1948-'53),
University College, London (1956-59), Gray's Inn, London and Council
of Legal Education (1956-60). He was called to the English and the
Nigerian Bar in February and September 1960, respectively, and admitted
to the Inner Bar as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1992.
He has since his public service returned to private legal practice
where he has busied himself with advocacy for social justice and
equity.
A sports man with school colours in Athletic and Hockey, Femi Okunnu
represented Nigeria in International Hockey against Gold Coast (now
Ghana), in 1952 and 1954. He was the Vice President of Olympic Committee
(1993-1997).
A deeply religious man, Alhaji Okunnu belongs to several religious
societies and social clubs. He has held top positions in career-related
civic and political associations, and has been honoured by many
professional bodies, the Federal Government, and some foreign countries.
He is given philanthropy and other veritable causes.
Alhaji Okunnu is married to Alhaja Lateefa Modupeole Okunnu (nee
Oyekan), retired Federal Permanent Secretary and Deputy
Governor of Lagose State (1990 - '92). His favourite pastimes are
reading, writing, walking and swimming. Among his publications are:
No Pact No Base, The Case for African Unity and The Papers of Femi
Okunnu: Engaging with History (2003).
BY
PROFESSOR G.O. OLUSANYA Ph.D.
Problems of nation-building, problems of growth
and development, problems of goals and perspectives - these constitute
the unfinished task to which Professor Gabriel O. Olusanya, one
of Nigeria's leading scholars, an historian and a thinker addressed
himself in this excellent analysis of the Nigerian system.
The coverage of the book is comprehensive: education, government,
mass communication, politics, foreign affairs, the civil service,
the economy and societal issues of perennial interest. These issues
are treated with the characteristic candour, the
depth of insight and pragmatic vision, which have become the hallmark
of Professor Olusanya's contribution to national issues.
The Unfinished Task is not merely analytical or critical. It is
also prescriptive of trends and suggestive of the way out in the
years ahead. It is an essential text for observers and students
of Nigerian politics and history. It is an indispensable tool for
journalists, current affairs analysts and all those who wish to
know the Nigerian mind.
Gabriel Olusanya, a graduate of the universities of London, British
Columbia and Toronto, was a professor of history, University of
Lagos and one-time visiting professor, Institute of African Studies,
University of Ibadan. He was the pioneer Director of Studies in
Nigeria's prestigious National Institute of Policy and Strategic
Studies, and was a one-time Nigerian Ambassador to France, served
as the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International
Affairs and Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
Professor Olusanya has written and has been published widely on
history, politics, international relations and the civil service.
-
ESSAYS
IN POLITICAL ECONOMY
BY
IZOMA P.C. ASIODU M.A. (Oxon) D.Litt. (Hon). Benin,
CON.
Since Nigerian independence, efforts at nation-building
have turned out to be more problematic than the most cynical pessimist
might have imagined. Problems of national integration, ensuring
tolerable living standard for the masses, economic development and
management, as well as the public administration of the polity,
continue to be daunting of solutions to successive Nigerian civilian
and military regimes.
In intelligible and non-pompous language, Phillip Asiodu, as a participant
observer in Nigerian public affairs utilizes his vast and impeccable
knowledge of these affairs to underscore most of the nagging and
evergreen problems of the nation. Like a
"voice crying in the wilderness", he points to the obvious
dangers of delayed policy solutions, refusal even to face up to
the existence of these worrisome problems and a system, such as
ours, seemingly lacking in correlation between efforts and rewards.
Thus Phillip Asiodu has not merely produced a compendium of irksome
problems and lamentations about missed opportunities for development;
on the contrary, alternative policy solutions are most refreshingly
suggested to practically every problem issue
highlighted in the book.
In the on-going desire for a realistic approach and feasible solutions
to the multi-faceted problems of political economy in Nigeria, this
collection of essays notably on the oil sector, is an indispensable,
instructive and invaluable handbook for statesmen, policy makers,
academics, captains of industry, as well as Nigerian patriots, who
share the lofty yearnings to which the book is dedicated
These Books are Obtainable
from Sankore Publishers Ltd @
16 Kofo Abayomi Street,
Suite 18
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: 234-1-2617797, 4801347
Fax: 234-1-2611501
Beauchamphaus:
1a Molade Okoya Thomas Street,
Off Ajose Adeogun Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
E-mail: sankorepublishers@amserve.com,
sankore@jidaw.com
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