Chief Wuraola Adepeju Esan, Nigeria’s First Female Senator

Chief Wuraola Adepeju Esan (1909–1985): Nigeria’s First Female Senator and Pioneer of Women’s Education

Chief Wuraola Adepeju Esan was a pioneering Nigerian politician, educator, and women’s rights advocate who made history as Nigeria’s first female senator. She played a crucial role in advancing girls’ education and women’s political participation during the colonial and early post-independence periods.

Early Life and Background

Chief Wuraola Adepeju Esan was born in 1909 in Ibadan, present-day Oyo State, Nigeria.

⚠️ Some secondary accounts incorrectly list her birthplace as Calabar; however, authoritative historical records consistently identify Ibadan as her place of birth.

She hailed from a prominent Ibadan family, often referenced as part of the Ojo-badan lineage. Her father was a veteran of World War I, while her mother was a successful trader and entrepreneur. This combination of military discipline and commercial independence strongly influenced Esan’s outlook on leadership, service, and women’s self-reliance.

Education and Early Career

At a time when formal education for girls was discouraged in colonial Nigeria, Esan’s parents insisted on Western education for their daughter.
She attended:

Baptist Girls’ College, Abeokuta

United Missionary College, Ibadan, where she earned a teacher-training certificate

Between 1930 and 1934, she taught domestic science in Akure, Ondo Province. She later moved to Lagos, where she taught at Methodist Girls’ High School, one of the leading girls’ schools in colonial Nigeria.
Her early teaching career exposed her to the deep gender inequalities facing Nigerian women, particularly in access to education.

Contributions to Education

In 1944, Chief Wuraola Esan founded the Ibadan People’s Girls Grammar School in Molete, Ibadan. The school was established to:

Expand access to secondary education for girls

Empower young women intellectually and economically

Challenge colonial and cultural limitations placed on women

The school became one of the most influential girls’ institutions in Western Nigeria and remains a key part of her legacy.

Political Career and National Impact

Esan entered politics in the 1950s, joining the women’s wing of the Action Group (AG), a dominant political party in Western Nigeria led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
In 1960, Nigeria’s independence year, she made history when she was nominated to the Senate, becoming:

The first female senator in Nigeria

A member of the Nigerian National Assembly during the First Republic

Senator representing Ibadan West

Her appointment marked a major breakthrough for women in Nigerian governance at a time when politics was overwhelmingly male-dominated.

Women’s Rights and Social Activism

Chief Wuraola Esan was a lifelong advocate for women’s empowerment. She was a founding member of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria’s foremost umbrella organisation for women’s groups.
Her advocacy focused on:

Girls’ education

Women’s political participation

Economic independence for women

Social reform through education

She is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s earliest feminist leaders, though she operated within the cultural and political frameworks of her era.

Traditional Title and Later Life

In 1975, Chief Esan was installed as the Iyalode of Ibadan, one of the highest traditional titles reserved for influential women in Yoruba society. The title recognised her immense contributions to education, politics, and community development.

Death and Legacy

Chief Wuraola Adepeju Esan died on 1 January 1985 at the age of 75.
Her legacy endures through:

Her trailblazing role as Nigeria’s first female senator

The continued operation and influence of Ibadan People’s Girls Grammar School

Her foundational role in organised women’s movements in Nigeria

She paved the way for future generations of Nigerian women in politics, governance, and public leadership.

Key Facts at a Glance

Full Name: Chief Wuraola Adepeju Esan

Born: 1909

Place of Birth: Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Died: 1 January 1985

Profession: Educator, politician, women’s rights activist

Historic Role: First female senator in Nigeria

Traditional Title: Iyalode of Ibadan

Sources

National Assembly of Nigeria historical records

National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) archives

Toyin Falola & Ann Genova, Yoruba Identity and Power Politics

Ibadan People’s Girls Grammar School historical publications

Nigerian political history texts on the First Republic