Kofoworola Ademola

“The progress of earlier graduates paved the way for a new generation of black, female Rhodes Scholars.”

“They are still static. I submit that the women of Nigeria were not much more under subjection of men in the olden days than they are now. In no part of the world today are men much more pampered and spoilt than they are in Nigeria. Does one ever see a group of women standing and sitting in the street corners of Lagos? No, the loafers are the men. They are the ones who have the time for Ayo, Ludo and Draughts. A strange thing happens; say an arrest is made; a crowd collects. Whom does one find in the crowd? – Men. It is the men who seem to have the time to waste.”

“Women are now seen in the offices and shops. They work as nurses, health visitors, midwives, teachers, telephonists. Year after year, more openings are given to women. Two girls are now in training at the Higher College as dispensers.”

“I would have considered coming to address what I knew would be a large and critical audience as the greatest ordeal I have ever had to go through if it was not for the fact that I had three points which urged me to accept the invitation of the Youth movement. The subject ‘The Emancipation of Women in Nigeria’ is one in which I am naturally deeply interested and one about which I feel most keenly.”

“Some would ask what would be the advantage to Nigeria if women were wholly emancipated. I should like to submit four immediate obvious results: Abuse of power by men and arrogance will lessen; opinion of women would be more beneficial and influential, for there are certain matters which women could tackle better than men; better and happier homes and a better nation.”

“Tossed in a sea of intellect with highly earnest students mitigate the dangers of the individualistic and capitalistic attitude gradual process of introducing people into a foreign country and to foreign life.”

“Brains have no sex … You can do as well and even better than some boys.”

“Gradual process of introducing people into a foreign country and to foreign life.”