Hajia Gambo Sawaba was a Nigerian women's rights activist, politician and philanthropist.
13 Facts About Gambo Sawaba
1.
2.
Gambo Sawaba served as the deputy chairman of Great Nigeria People's Party and was elected leader of the national women's wing of Northern Element Progressive Union.
3.
Hajia Sawaba was born to Isa Amartey Amarteifio who was an immigrant from Ghana and Fatima Amarteifio, a Nupe woman from Lavun Local Government, Niger State.
4.
Gambo Sawaba met Fatima and later married her after some years.
5.
Gambo Sawaba was educated at the Native Authority Primary School in Tudun Wada.
6.
Gambo Sawaba however had to stop schooling after the death of her father in 1943, and her mother dead three years after.
7.
Gambo Sawaba was married off at age 13 to a World War II veteran, Abubakar Garba Bello who left and never returned after her first pregnancy.
8.
Gambo Sawaba spoke with them, accommodated some and gave the ones she could money, clothes and food.
9.
Gambo Sawaba was a campaigner against under-aged marriages, forced labour and an advocate for western education in the north.
10.
Gambo Sawaba made a name for herself when at a political lecture during her career in the North, she climbed up and spoke out in a room full of men.
11.
Gambo Sawaba was mentored by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and traveled to meet her in Abeokuta years later.
12.
Gambo Sawaba is widely regarded as the pioneer of fighting for the liberation of northern women.
13.
Gambo Sawaba was imprisoned 16 times for openly advocating against child marriage, forced and unpaid labour and unfair taxes, and canvassed for jobs for women, education for girls and full voting rights.