Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900–1978), born Frances Abigail Olufunmilayo Thomas, is celebrated as Nigeria’s first female political activist and the first woman in Nigeria to drive a car.

Known as the “Lioness of Lisabi,” she was a prominent educator, suffragist, and fierce advocate for women’s rights.

Ransome-Kuti founded the Abeokuta Women’s Union in 1946, mobilizing thousands of women against oppressive colonial taxes. Her activism was pivotal during the Nigerian independence movement, where she represented women’s interests at national and international forums, including the 1947 delegation to London.

As an educator, Ransome-Kuti established some of Nigeria’s first preschools and organized literacy classes for lower-income women. She was the first female student admitted to Abeokuta Grammar School in 1914.

Ransome-Kuti’s trailblazing spirit extended to her personal life, as she became the first woman in Abeokuta to drive a car.

She received numerous accolades, including the Lenin Peace Prize and membership in the Order of the Niger, recognizing her contributions to women’s rights and political activism.

Her legacy continues through her children, notably Fela Kuti, who inherited her spirit of resistance against injustice. Ransome-Kuti’s life exemplifies the intertwined struggles for gender equality and national liberation in Nigeria.