Chief (Dr.) Folashade Tinubu Ojo, the Iyaloja General and first daughter of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has accepted an invitation to attend the Conference on the Aba Women’s Revolt of 1929.
The conference, which will commemorate the 96th anniversary of the historic Revolt, will take place in Owerri on December 18 and 19, 2025, at Rockview Hotel.
Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo conveyed her acceptance and her intention to come to the Igbo heartland, during a meeting in her Abuja office with Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji, the convener of the conference, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Ugorji was the former Commissioner for Homeland Security in Imo State and now serves as President of OFO Educational Foundation.
He said that the Iyaloja General will present a keynote speech at the conference and participate in other activities that are being worked out.
According to the press release from the OFO Educational Foundation, Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo holds a significant position as the Iyaloja General of Lagos, Nigeria.
Hers is a remarkable career, with several traditional and Chieftaincy titles to her name, including Iya Oba of Awori land and Yeye Oba of Ogudu.
She has made notable contributions to the market community in Lagos and beyond.
Ugorji told reporters in Owerri that Tinubu-Ojo is actively involved in efforts to empower women, including better representation of women in political and corporate leadership in Nigeria.
From establishing recreation centers and primary healthcare facilities, to empowering market women and men through business loans, Iyaloja has made remarkable improvements to the lives of Nigerians within her sphere of influence.
The conference will be jointly chaired by His Excellency Dr. Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo State, and Professor Chinwe Obaji, Nigeria’s first female Minister of Education.
About Aba Women’s Revolt of 1929
The Aba Women’s Revolt of 1929 was also known as the Aba Women’s War or Women’s Riot of 1929.
It was a major anti-colonial uprising led by thousands of Igbo and Ibibio women in southeastern Nigeria against British colonial authorities.
Background
In the late 1920s, British colonial rule in Nigeria introduced “Indirect Rule” through local male chiefs (Warrant Chiefs).
The Indirect Rule replaced traditional systems in which women had strong political voices.
The colonial administration also conducted taxation and censuses, raising fears that women would be taxed — something unheard of in local custom.
Economic hardship and abuses by some Warrant Chiefs added to widespread resentment.
Causes
Imposition of Warrant Chiefs: Undermined women’s traditional authority in village governance.
Rumors of women’s taxation: A census being taken was believed to precede a new tax on women.
Economic hardship: Colonial economic policies favored exports and taxed local produce, deepening poverty.
Abuse of power: Some local chiefs used their positions for personal gain, exploiting women traders.
The Revolt (November–December 1929)
It began in Oloko, near Aba (in present-day Abia State), when a woman named Nwanyeruwa argued with a local tax officer about counting her livestock and household members.
Thousands of women mobilized through a traditional communication network called “sitting on a man”.
“Sitting on a man” is a form of organized protest involving singing, dancing, and shaming corrupt officials.
The protests spread rapidly across the Igbo, Ibibio, and Andoni areas — covering over 6,000 square miles.
The women stormed Native Courts, destroyed warrant chiefs’ offices, and demanded political reform.
Outcome
British troops opened fire on protesters in several places, killing about 50 women and injuring many more.
The revolt forced the colonial government to suspend plans for women’s taxation and to reform the system of Warrant Chiefs.
It was one of the first major anti-colonial and feminist movements in West Africa.
Legacy
The Aba Women’s Revolt is remembered as a landmark in Nigerian history, symbolizing women’s resistance against oppression and colonial injustice.
It is celebrated today as part of Nigeria’s national heritage and a precursor to later independence and women’s rights movements.