By the early 20th century, Nigeria was firmly under British colonial rule. The administration relied on indirect governance, racial hierarchies, and economic exploitation, leaving limited avenues for African participation. Yet colonial education and missionary schools unintentionally fostered political awareness. Institutions such as Government Colleges in Lagos, Ibadan, and Onitsha produced a small but influential class of educated Nigerians.
EXPLORE: Nigerian Civil War
These emergent elite teachers, clerks, journalists, and professionals were exposed to European liberal ideas, Pan-Africanism, and global anti-colonial movements. They were aware of struggles in India, Africa, and early debates at the League of Nations. By the 1920s and 1930s, these young Nigerians began forming cultural and political associations, culminating in the creation of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), a key platform for nationalist expression.
Origins of the Nigerian Youth Movement (1934–1938)
The NYM was founded in 1934 in Lagos as the Lagos Youth Movement by educated professionals, including Dr. James Churchill Vaughan, Ernest Ikoli, Samuel Akinsanya, and H.O. Davies. Initially, its focus was cultural and educational: promoting literacy, civic participation, and Nigerian unity.
Racial discrimination in education and employment highlighted the limitations of British liberalism, pushing the NYM towards explicit political objectives. In 1936, the group adopted the name Nigerian Youth Movement to reflect its national ambitions and political orientation.
Key Figures and Ideological Foundations
The NYM attracted prominent early nationalists. Dr. James Churchill Vaughan, a physician, provided intellectual leadership. Ernest Ikoli, journalist and editor of the Daily Times, mobilised public opinion through the press. H.O. Davies, a London-educated barrister, offered legal expertise and knowledge of constitutional processes.
Nnamdi Azikiwe joined in 1937, bringing Pan-Africanist ideals and advocating assertive political action. Obafemi Awolowo, though not a formal member, was influenced by the NYM’s emphasis on education, civic engagement, and national unity.
Initially, the NYM pursued moderate reform within colonial structures. Over time, it shifted towards demands for political representation, equality, and a unified Nigerian identity.
The 1938 Yaba Higher College Controversy
In 1938, the British colonial administration promoted Yaba Higher College as the principal tertiary institution, restricting Nigerian access to higher education abroad. The NYM opposed this policy, viewing it as a mechanism to limit Africans to subordinate roles. It mobilised petitions, press campaigns, and public lectures, drawing Nigerians across ethnic and religious lines. This controversy elevated the NYM from a cultural association to a national political force, demonstrating the organisational capacity of youth-led activism.
The 1938 Legislative Council Election
Later that year, NYM candidate Ernest Ikoli defeated the Lagos-dominant Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) for a Legislative Council seat. This election marked a generational shift: the NNDP represented the older, conservative elite, while the NYM represented a younger, assertive cohort advocating education, unity, and self-governance. The victory established the NYM as the foremost nationalist organisation, setting precedents for later parties such as the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) and the Action Group.
Expansion, Achievements, and Internal Divisions (1939–1944)
Between 1939 and 1944, the NYM expanded nationally, establishing branches across Nigeria. Its objectives included:
- Promoting higher education and professional advancement
- Increasing African participation in governance
- Ending racial discrimination in employment
- Fostering national unity across ethnic and regional lines
During World War II, the NYM leveraged its influence to demand political reform through petitions, lectures, and publications. Members like Azikiwe and Davies cultivated links with Pan-African networks in London and the United States, connecting Nigeria’s struggle to broader anti-colonial movements.
Internal tensions emerged in 1941 when Ernest Ikoli was chosen over Samuel Akinsanya as the NYM candidate for the Lagos Legislative Council seat. Nnamdi Azikiwe supported Akinsanya and subsequently resigned, taking several Igbo members with him. This schism weakened the NYM and facilitated the rise of new political organisations, including the NCNC, co-founded by Azikiwe and Herbert Macaulay.
Legacy and Influence on Nigerian Nationalism
Despite internal divisions, the NYM’s impact on Nigerian politics was profound. It was the first national organisation to transcend regional and ethnic divisions, advocating a collective Nigerian identity. Its methods, press campaigns, public lectures, and petitions became templates for subsequent nationalist movements.
The NYM emphasised education, civic responsibility, and unity. Its approach influenced leaders such as Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, and Nnamdi Azikiwe, shaping postwar political mobilisation. Internal challenges also highlighted the dangers of ethnic politics and leadership disputes, lessons still relevant to Nigeria today.
Contemporary Relevance
The NYM’s ideals of youth empowerment, education, and national unity continue to resonate. Later student unions, pro-democracy campaigns, and civil society movements echo the NYM’s emphasis on civic engagement, coordinated activism, and cross-ethnic collaboration. Its history provides a framework for understanding youth participation in governance and the pursuit of inclusive national identity.
The Nigerian Youth Movement marked the dawn of modern nationalism in Nigeria. Emerging from the frustrations of an educated elite under colonial rule, it transformed civic consciousness into organised political action. Its legacy shaped Nigeria’s nationalist ideology, inspired future leaders, and demonstrated the potential for unity across ethnic and regional lines. The NYM exemplifies the transformative power of youth leadership in defining a nation’s political destiny.
Author’s Note
This article examines the Nigerian Youth Movement as a pioneering nationalist organisation. It highlights how educated youth mobilised across ethnic and regional lines to challenge colonial authority and lay the foundations for Nigeria’s independence.
READ MORE: Ancient & Pre-Colonial Nigeria
References
Coleman, James S. Nigeria: Background to Nationalism. University of California Press, 1958.
Falola, Toyin & Heaton, Matthew M. A History of Nigeria. Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Sklar, Richard L. Nigerian Political Parties: Power in an Emergent African Nation. Princeton University Press, 1963.
