10 Exceptional Nigerian Women
1. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
2. Oby Ezekwesili
3. Onyeka Onwenu
4. Margaret Ekpo
5. Flora Nwakpa
6. Grace Alele-Williams
7. Justice Bassey Ikpeme
8. Maria Sokenu
9. Chris Anyanwu
10. Prof. Bolanle Awe
Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti
Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti was the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria. She was born on the 25th of October 1900 to Yoruba parents, Daniel Olumeyuwa Thomas and Lucretia Phyllis Omoyeni Adeosolu. She was a political campaigner, a teacher and a women’s right activist who served as one of the most prominent leaders in her lifetime.
She had her secondary education at Abeokuta Grammar School and thereafter travelled to England for further studies. Upon her return to Nigeria, she started work as a teacher.
She got married to Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome Kuti who was one of the founders of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigerian Union of Students.
She had 3 sons and this included Fela Anikulapo Kuti, an activist and a musician; Beko Ransome-Kuti, a doctor and Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a former health minister in Nigeria.
Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was an educator and an activist and she provided dynamic leadership for women’s right in the 1950’s. She began an organization in Abeokuta for women with a membership of more than 20,000 people including illiterate and literate women.
She died in 1978 after she went into a coma as a result of injuries sustained after being thrown from the 3rd floor window of her son's house.