Nigerian Youth Movement
Encyclopedia
The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) was Nigeria
's first genuine nationalist organization, founded in Lagos
in 1933 with the name of Lagos Youth Movement and renamed the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1936.
.
Ernest Ikoli
, the first editor of the Daily Times of Nigeria
, which was launched in June 1926, was another founding member.
Immediate concerns included the supposedly inferior status of Yaba College
, appointments of Africans to senior positions in the civil service and discrimination against African truck drivers.
However, the Lagos-based organization at first had generally moderate views and pledged to support and cooperate with the governor.
The president was Dr Kofo Abayomi
. Ernest Ikoli was vice president and H.O. Davis was the secretary.
It was the first multi-ethnic organization in Nigeria and its programme was to foster political advancement of the country and enhance the socio-economic status of the Nigerian citizens.
Adeyemo Alakija
later became President of the NYM.
("Zik") launched his West African Pilot
in 1937, dedicated to fighting for independence from British colonial rule, the newspaper was an immediate success.
Zik, an Ibo, found a ready-audience in the non-Yoruba
people of Nigeria, including many in Lagos.
He introduced militant racial consciousness to the NYM, and expanded its membership with large numbers of people who had previously been excluded. H.O. Davies returned to Nigeria in 1938 from a spell at the London School of Economics
(LSE), becoming a leading figure in the movement until he resigned in 1951. At the LSE, Davies had roomed with Jomo Kenyatta
and had absorbed the socialist views of Harold Laski
.
In October 1938 the NYM fought and won elections for the Lagos Town Council, ending the dominance of Herbert Macaulay
and the National Democratic Party.
The newly self-confident members of the Nigerian Youth Movement objected to the system of indirect rule through traditional tribal leaders. The Youth Charter published in 1938 said: "We are opposed to the term "Indirect Rule" literally as well as in principle. Honest trusteeship implies direct British Rule with a view to ultimate self-government...".
The Charter set out goals of unifying the tribes of Nigeria to work towards a common ideal, and educating public opinion to develop the national consciousness needed to reach this ideal. The goal was spelled out as complete autonomy within the British Empire on a basis of equal partnership with the other member states.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
's first genuine nationalist organization, founded in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
in 1933 with the name of Lagos Youth Movement and renamed the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1936.
Early years
Founding members included Dr. James Churchill Vaughan, Hezekiah Oladipo Davies and Samuel AkinsanyaSamuel Akinsanya
Samuel Akinsanya, also rendered incorrectly as Akisanya, was a Nigerian trade unionist and nationalist based in Lagos, Nigeria during the colonial era, one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement.-Early years:...
.
Ernest Ikoli
Ernest Ikoli
Ernest Sissei Ikoli was a Nigerian politician, nationalist and pioneering journalist. He was the president of the Nigerian Youth Movement and in 1942, represented Lagos in the legislative council.-Early life and career:...
, the first editor of the Daily Times of Nigeria
Daily Times of Nigeria
The Daily Times of Nigeria is a newspaper with headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.At its peak, in the 1970s, it was one of the most successful locally owned businesses in Africa....
, which was launched in June 1926, was another founding member.
Immediate concerns included the supposedly inferior status of Yaba College
Yaba College
Yaba Higher College was founded in 1932 in Yaba, now a suburb of Lagos in Nigeria to provide tertiary education to Africans, mostly in vocational subjects and teaching. The college staff were transferred to start the University of Ibadan in 1948 and the college premises were used for the new Yaba...
, appointments of Africans to senior positions in the civil service and discrimination against African truck drivers.
However, the Lagos-based organization at first had generally moderate views and pledged to support and cooperate with the governor.
The president was Dr Kofo Abayomi
Kofo Abayomi
Kofoworola Adekunle "Kofo" Abayomi, Kt was a Nigerian ophthalmologist who was one of the founders of the nationalist Lagos Youth Movement in 1934 and who went on to have a distinguished public service career.-Early years:...
. Ernest Ikoli was vice president and H.O. Davis was the secretary.
It was the first multi-ethnic organization in Nigeria and its programme was to foster political advancement of the country and enhance the socio-economic status of the Nigerian citizens.
Adeyemo Alakija
Adeyemo Alakija
Adeyemo Alakija, KBE was a Nigerian lawyer, politician and businessman. He was a newspaper entrepreneur who co-founded the Daily Times of Nigeria. He was also a member of the governor's executive council, the legislative council of Nigeria and was president of the Nigerian Youth Movement.He was...
later became President of the NYM.
Growing militancy
When Nnamdi AzikiweNnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
("Zik") launched his West African Pilot
West African Pilot
The West African Pilot was a newspaper launched in Nigeria by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1937, dedicated to fightingfor independence from British colonial rule.-Foundation and growth:...
in 1937, dedicated to fighting for independence from British colonial rule, the newspaper was an immediate success.
Zik, an Ibo, found a ready-audience in the non-Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
people of Nigeria, including many in Lagos.
He introduced militant racial consciousness to the NYM, and expanded its membership with large numbers of people who had previously been excluded. H.O. Davies returned to Nigeria in 1938 from a spell at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE), becoming a leading figure in the movement until he resigned in 1951. At the LSE, Davies had roomed with Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyattapron.] served as the first Prime Minister and President of Kenya. He is considered the founding father of the Kenyan nation....
and had absorbed the socialist views of Harold Laski
Harold Laski
Harold Joseph Laski was a British Marxist, political theorist, economist, author, and lecturer, who served as the chairman of the Labour Party during 1945-1946, and was a professor at the LSE from 1926 to 1950....
.
In October 1938 the NYM fought and won elections for the Lagos Town Council, ending the dominance of Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, engineer, journalist, and musician and considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism.- Early life :...
and the National Democratic Party.
The newly self-confident members of the Nigerian Youth Movement objected to the system of indirect rule through traditional tribal leaders. The Youth Charter published in 1938 said: "We are opposed to the term "Indirect Rule" literally as well as in principle. Honest trusteeship implies direct British Rule with a view to ultimate self-government...".
The Charter set out goals of unifying the tribes of Nigeria to work towards a common ideal, and educating public opinion to develop the national consciousness needed to reach this ideal. The goal was spelled out as complete autonomy within the British Empire on a basis of equal partnership with the other member states.