Awolowo, Obafemi (1909–1987)

Nigerian politician, premier of the Western Region 1954–59. He was co-founder of the Action Group, a party based on the Yoruba of western Nigeria, which he led from 1951 until the party was banned in 1966. Having lost the premiership in 1959, he became leader of the opposition in the federal parliament from 1960 and was imprisoned in 1962. Released after the 1966 coup, he was appointed federal commissioner for finance and vice president of the federal executive council of Nigeria 1967–71.

By profession a lawyer, Awolowo was a solicitor and advocate of the Nigerian supreme court, and returned to private practice after 1971. His bid for the presidency in 1979 as the Unity Party of Nigeria candidate was unsuccessful.

Awolowo was educated in Protestant schools, and worked as a teacher, trader, trade-union organizer, and journalist, before becoming an external student of law at London University.