The Ernest Ikoli Foundation has called for global recognition of the contributions of late Nigerian nationalist, journalist and politician, Chief Ernest Sesei Ikoli, describing him as a deep thinker, a liberator of the people and a pioneer of Nigeria’s independence struggle.
The foundation said Ikoli played a significant role in promoting national unity, shaping Nigeria’s early political development and laying the organisational foundation for the country’s independence movement.
In a statement on The Life and Times of Ernest Sesei Ikoli, signed by its Vice Chairman, Chief Anthony George Ikoli, SAN, the foundation urged world leaders to emulate the late nationalist’s virtues of courage, discipline, integrity, fairness, humility and commitment to the common good.
It praised Ikoli for his strength, audacity, organisational ability and determination to challenge colonial oppression, noting that he believed unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups was essential to defeating colonial rule.
“Chief Ernest Ikoli was committed to the unity of the people, believing that it was the effective way of fighting the colonial masters,” the statement said.
The foundation described Ikoli as one of the most intelligent politicians of the colonial era, whose contributions to journalism and politics helped shape public opinion and advance the demand for self-government.
It noted that his struggle for self-determination extended beyond journalism and political agitation to formal representation in the colonial government.
In 1941, following the resignation of Dr. Kofo Abayomi from the Nigerian Legislative Council to pursue further studies abroad, the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) selected Ikoli as its candidate to fill the vacant seat.
Supported by the party’s official newspaper, The Daily Service, Ikoli won the election and became a member of the council. He was subsequently elected president of the NYM in 1943 and returned to the Legislative Council in 1946.
According to the foundation, Ikoli used his position to advocate open government, improved working conditions and broader political representation for Nigerians.
The foundation also highlighted his role in bringing educated Nigerians from different ethnic backgrounds together to demand self-governance and educational reforms.
It said his commitment to the emancipation of black people extended beyond Nigeria, as he opposed racial discrimination and championed the dignity and relevance of Africans in a world dominated by colonialism.
“Chief Ernest Ikoli worked for the greater glory of Nigeria, instilled in blacks the feeling of relevance, played an active part in the foundation of Daily Times, brought about far-reaching social and political progress and demonstrated an ability to withstand adversity,” the statement said.
Born on March 25, 1893, in Brass, present-day Bayelsa State, Ikoli was the son of an illustrious merchant who traded along the coast of southeastern Nigeria. His mother was among the early women from the Niger Delta to receive Western education.
He began his education at Bonny Primary School before proceeding to King’s College, Lagos, where he was among the institution’s foundation students when it opened in 1909. He later became an assistant mathematics teacher at the college in 1913.
The foundation recalled an incident that reportedly led to Ikoli’s resignation from King’s College after a European superior spoke harshly to him in what he considered an affront to his dignity and race.
The incident, it said, reflected his unwillingness to tolerate racial arrogance and injustice.
After leaving the teaching profession, Ikoli entered journalism, working with the Lagos Weekly Record before establishing African Messenger in 1921.
The newspaper became known for its critical editorials challenging colonial policies and advocating political and social reforms.
In 1926, he became the first African editor of the Daily Times of Nigeria. He subsequently edited other publications, including the Nigerian Daily Mail, Telegraph and The Daily Service.
Through these newspapers, Ikoli helped establish journalism as a powerful instrument for political mobilisation, public debate and resistance to colonial rule.
Beyond journalism, he served as the Nigerian organising secretary of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association, helping to introduce Pan-African ideas into Nigerian political discourse.
He also served as president of the Nigerian Youth Movement, secretary of the People’s Union led by Dr. J.K. Randle and co-founder of the Union of Young Nigerians in 1923.
In 1951, he collaborated with other prominent political leaders in establishing the Action Group, further demonstrating his involvement in the evolving struggle for Nigeria’s political future.
His other public service engagements included serving as chairman of the Rediffusion Service and public relations adviser to the Nigeria Railway Corporation.
The Ernest Ikoli Foundation said the late nationalist’s life offered enduring lessons for contemporary political leaders and citizens, particularly at a time when the country continued to grapple with questions of national unity, responsible leadership and social justice.
It urged leaders to embrace the values he represented, including strong work ethics, courage, thoroughness, kindness, humility and fairness.
The foundation described Ikoli as a patriot who consistently placed the collective interest above personal considerations and remained committed to the advancement of Nigerians across ethnic and social divides.
It said his ability to withstand adversity while pursuing a common cause distinguished him as one of the outstanding figures of the nationalist movement.
Ikoli died on October 21, 1960, barely three weeks after Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960.
The foundation’s call for global recognition seeks to ensure that his contributions to Nigerian journalism, political organisation, racial equality and the independence struggle receive greater attention beyond the country.
