Obafemi Awolowo, (born March 6, 1909, Ikenne, Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria—died May 9, 1987, Ikenne), Nigerian nationalist politician, strong proponent of federalism, and a leader of the Yoruba ethnic group. While studying law in London, he wrote the influential Path to Nigerian Freedom (1947) and laid the basis for the Action Group political party. As premier of Nigeria’s Western Region (1954–59), he worked to improve education, social services, and agriculture. He remained a major figure in national politics but never won high elective office.
Discover