Content uploaded by Awoyera Evarista Funmilayo
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Awoyera Evarista Funmilayo on Jul 23, 2022
Content may be subject to copyright.
The Emergence and History of the “Gentlewomen of the Bar” into the
Legal Profession in the South West Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria
Henry AN* and Evarista AF
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: Henry AN, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria, Tel: +2348025809713; E-mail:
henryndunka@gmail.com
Received date: December 17, 2016; Accepted date: January 23, 2017; Published date: January 27, 2017
Copyright: © 2017 Henry AN, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
This research paper focuses on the emergence of women into the legal profession in Nigeria and the gender
inequality that pervaded the legal profession in the colonial days of Nigeria’s judicial history. Essentially, most
professions in Nigeria were dominated by the male gender and the legal profession was not exclusive, thereby, this
paper seeks to understand the historical emergence of women into the legal profession. This paper utilized radical
feminism theory in understanding the subject-matter. The paper engaged qualitative research method. The primary
data were sourced from historical information such as oral information, observations and interviews. It also includes
fieldwork, visits to the Nigerian Bar Association office, Law Schools and Law Faculties in some Universities in
Nigeria to obtain vital data for the study. Purposive sampling was engaged in selecting the interviewees. Data were
analyzed using content analysis. Findings were able to espouse the genesis and how women emerged into the legal
profession in Nigeria.
Keywords: Legal profession; Law; Yoruba; Women; Nigeria
Introduction
Over the years, the legal profession in Nigeria has been dominated
by those who are referred to as “Gentlemen of the Bar” thus; it is
known to be exclusively preserved for men as the language of law itself
lauds the male gender. e patriarchal nature of most Nigerian
societies is the major challenge which acknowledges the mortication
and subjugation of women. Historically, the number of females in the
legal profession increased, though their overall progression was not in
proportion with their number. Despite their impacts and contributions
beyond all expectations, women still lag behind their male
counterparts in the major areas of the profession. No wonder the
popular phrase “Gentlemen of e Bar” seems to conrm the notion
that there are no women in the profession and if there are their
number and inuence is comparatively insignicant. However, despite
the mass entry of women into the legal profession in Nigeria, most
especially in post-independence era, their numerical adjustment did
not make much dierence in the aspect of access to power and
opportunities within the profession but in all ramication female
lawyers excelled beyond all expectations.
Literature Review
e historical overview of women into the legal profession in
Nigeria
e legal profession during the colonial era in Nigeria was
dominated by men who had the opportunity to study Law. e legal
culture is a quintessentially male world from which women were
excluded. Women were prominent in such professions like teaching
and nursing. Aside the fact that there was no degree awarding
institution in Nigeria, the University College, Ibadan, which was
established in 1948 was not oering Law as a course; thus even the
male lawyers that controlled the profession in the colonial Nigeria were
trained abroad. In the midst of the prevailing discriminatory
environment in which women were expected to play second ddle to
men, there emerged the rst Nigeria female lawyer in November 1935.
She was Miss Stella Jane omas (later referred to as Mrs. Marke) [1].
e English-type of legal practice had been in existence in Nigeria as
far back as late nineteenth century, but it was dominated by men such
as Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams, Joseph Egerton Shyngle,
Kitoyi Ajasa, Eusebius James Taylor, Steven Beresford Bankole Rhodes,
Eric Olawolu Moore, Ayodele Williams, and many others. ese men
trained like their female counterparts. For example, Christopher
Alexander Sapara Williams studied for about a year, he studied at the
Wesley College, Sheeld. But in 1876, on account of his father’s death,
he le the College and joined the Inner Temple and was called to
English bar on 17 November 1879 [1]. Likewise, Kitoyi Ajasa, Joseph
Egerton Shyngle and others too trained at the Inner Temple and later
called to the English Bar. eir female counterparts also went through
the same process of training at the Temples. e emergence of Stella
Jane Marke, no doubt, was a novelty in Nigeria. e death knell to male
chauvinism has been sounded with her emergence into the profession.
Law in this period according to Solanke [2] was considered a
masculine job, while teaching; secretarial job and nursing were
feminine and which women could easily cope with. In some families
also, the female was allowed to engage in menial jobs as housemaids,
sewing mistresses and petty traders while the male take up skilled jobs
as lawyers, doctors, professors, engineers. Some parents during this
period refused to send their female children to school because it is
believed that a woman’s education should start and end in the kitchen.
Among those they had the intention to train their female children; the
prevailing thought about Law was probably in connection with
activities of some lawyers who engaged in dubious dealings with their
clients. Lord Brougham once commented: ‘the Lawyer is a gentleman
who secures your estate from your enemies and keeps it to himself
Henry and Evarista, Arts Social Sci J 2017, 8:1
DOI: 10.4172/2151-6200.1000242
Research Article Open Access
Arts Social Sci J, an open access journal
ISSN: 2151-6200
Volume 8 • Issue 1 • 1000242
Arts and Social Sciences Journal
A
r
t
s
a
n
d
S
o
c
i
a
l
S
c
i
e
n
c
e
s
J
o
u
r
n
a
l
ISSN: 2151-6200
(Lagos Daily News, 1929). is could not but constitute a factor in the
choice of female career. However, in spite of the unbecoming practices
of some male lawyers, Stella Jane Marke braved the odds to become the
rst Nigerian female lawyer. She was the rst female magistrate, not
only in Nigeria, but also in the whole of Africa [3].
e enviable position of Stella Jane Marke among the female lawyers
in Nigeria was not rivaled since 1935 until twelve years later when
Modupe Alakija (later Mrs. Renner) came into the scene. She became
the second female lawyer in Nigeria in 1947. Two years later another
lady, Adebisi Adedoyin (later Mrs. Adebiyi) was called to the English
bar thereby making the number of female lawyers in Nigeria in 1949
three. It took another three years before Gloria Rhodes (later Mrs
Jackman) joined the league of Nigerian female lawyers. Since Stella
Jane omas blazed trail in 1935, only one female lawyer was produced
in 1935, 1947, 1949 and 1952. It was in 1953 that three female lawyers
were produced, and another three in 1956. Up to 1956 as stressed by
Oputa [4], only ten female lawyers had qualied in Nigeria amidst over
three hundred lawyers in the country at the period. is shows the
rarity of hard work and determination of these ladies to succeed in a
terrain which is almost alien to the culture and practices of that period
[5]. However, it was discovered that in the legal profession, an average
of two Nigerians were enrolled in the 1930’s and the number gradually
increased from 1940s [1]. is explains why the numbers of the rst set
of female lawyers enrolled were few.
Remarkably, 1953 was unique in the annals of the legal practice in
Nigeria. is was because three women who later made great impact in
Nigerian history were called to bar this year. ey were Kafayat
Abimbola Augusto (later Mrs. Bakare) who qualied in February 1953,
Modupe Akingbein (later Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh) was called to
bar in March 1953, and Jayeiola Aduke Alakija who also qualied in
November of the same year. Although in comparison with the number
of their male counterparts the female were few, the truth is that the
women were gradually penetrating what appeared an exclusive male
profession. e women could now compete with their male
counterparts in the court room and in the civil service. is was the
same period when Nigerians were being given the responsible
positions to head government departments. erefore, the hitherto
strong opposition to women involvement in public aairs was
gradually plummeting.
Name Year
1. Stella Thomas 1935
2. Modupe Alakija 1947
3. Princess Adebisi Adedoyin 1949
4. Gloria Rhodes 1952
5. Kafayat Abimbola Augusto 1953
6. Modupe Akingbein 1953
7. Jayeiola Aduke Alakija 1953
8. Martina Efunyemi Akerele 1956
9. Christianah Osibodu 1956
10. Atandare Beatrice Olukemi 1956
11. Abimbola Aina Da Rocha 1959
12. Remilekun Braithwaite 1959
13. Muyinat Olabisi Dawodu 1959
14. Atinuke Oloko 1959
15. Modupe Maja 1959
16. Ajibola Olubunmi Adelowo 1959
17. Odujirin Olufunmlayo Olabisi 1960
18. Onalaja Moronikeji Omotayo 1960
19. Femi-Pearse Obafunke Folasade 1960
20. Akintade Sydney Aderinola 1960
Source: Gani Fawehini, Bench and Bar in Nigeria, (Lagos: Nigerian Law Publications LTD).
Table 1: e list and year of call of some female lawyers between 1935 and 1960.
Citation: Henry AN, Evarista AF (2017) The Emergence and History of the “Gentlewomen of the Bar” into the Legal Profession in the South West
Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. Arts Social Sci J 8: 242. doi:10.4172/2151-6200.1000242
Page 2 of 5
Arts Social Sci J, an open access journal
ISSN: 2151-6200
Volume 8 • Issue 1 • 1000242
Cultural Challenges that Characterized Women
Emergence in the Legal Profession
e sojourn of women in the legal profession traveled on a camel’s
back between 1935 and 1960 due to the challenges that daunted the
female child at that time. e most prominent at that time was the
cultural inhibition that restricted women at home and shielding them
from being the pillars of the society, setting the pace of development
even beyond the compass of the legal profession. In many ways, the
legal culture is a quintessentially male world from which women were
excluded. is was because the prototype and image of a lawyer is a
man.
Social perception and cultural bias that a woman’s responsibility is
in the management of the home and producing children particularly
from the colonial and post-colonial period contributed to the
unseemly number of women in the profession. ese beliefs amongst
others contributed to the low number of women in the legal profession
during the period. Tradition permits women to be seen only but not to
be heard. For instance among the Yoruba’s, women observe and
participate in local politics but when their views dier from that of the
men, they are regarded as unnecessary to vital decisions [6]. ey were
not expected to become anything of importance, rather they were to be
totally subjected to their husbands do’s and don’ts; living at their
mercies [7].
As elucidated above, there was great disparity between men and
women as far as education is concerned. It was not an easy task to read
in those days. But men still had an upper hand over women since
many parents did not believe in spending their hard earned money on
their daughters, because they would soon drop their maiden names for
their husband, and with that eventually, they end their careers in the
kitchen. e same parents could go as far as selling properties to send
their sons oversees for qualitative education if need be. Some parents
ignorantly believe that education could drive girls crazy, becoming
uncontrollable when dealing with the opposite sex. Giving girls out in
marriage at their tender ages was one issue that worked detrimentally
to their advancement in socio-economic ladder. ose in purdah were
and are still at greater disadvantage. In short, culture and religion
placed a heavy yoke on women [7]. But once it became clear that
female education was essential to provide good opportunities for
women, the parents began to send their girls to school [6].
At the early beginnings of the colonial administration, women were
steered into traditional jobs like farming, carving, weaving, dyeing;
traders and their chances into obtaining higher education and skill
training were blocked. Many were conned to activities which were of
secondary importance and spent a lot of their eorts on activities
which aided household consumption rather than capital accumulation
and job satisfaction.
Nonetheless, despite the barbaric nature of these cultural and
religious barriers, which were stumbling blocks to the progress of
women education in most of our societies Denzer, [6] the problem
persisted. It is suggested that if the female folk are to be liberated, we
have to start from individual homes since charity begins at home.
Correspondingly, government should intensify the enlightenment
campaign by educating religious and traditional leaders; this will also
go a long way to change the situation of women [6]. From 1935, the
legal profession began to undergo changes which included the
integration of women. As some socio-cultural prejudices reduced,
women lawyers gradually became a large part of the landscape with the
profession witnessing drastic and modern changes.
Although the female presence was recognized, their activities were
minimal. Also their numerical progress did not yield much in power
and opportunities at their entry and were either serving as oce clerks
or secretaries of lower courts. Despite their low number and with the
benecent results of their education, women in the legal profession
knocked down the idea that modern profession should remain the
preserve for male.
In addition, there was no university that was oering the course in
Nigeria at the early beginning of the profession. e rst sets of
lawyers were trained in English Law. e absence of a university that
oered a degree in Law was therefore partly responsible for the few
female lawyers on the eve of Nigeria’s independence. Also, it was the
era of old requirement of three years tutorial at the Inns of Court in
England, leading to Barrister-at-Law. is was because of Nigeria’s
historical link with Britain; her legal education is modeled aer the
British system. Before the Nigerian Law School was established, call to
the English Bar or an admission as a Solicitor in England was
qualication for Call by Nigeria’s Supreme Court to the Nigerian Bar as
a Barrister and Solicitor.
Additionally, many of the female lawyers at those early periods had
to practice in either a brother or fathers chamber. Perhaps, this was
because of the traditional impression against women as inferior to men
and the minimum employment opportunities which were available
then for women in Nigeria. e rst female lawyer in Nigeria, Stella
Jane Marke for example practiced in her brother’s Chambers, Mr. E.P.J.
A. omas who was the rst Chief Justice of the former Mid-Western
State now comprising of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers States.
According to Adewale [8], Jayeiola Aduke Alakija also practiced in her
father’s chamber, Sir Adeyemo Alakija who was also a prominent
lawyer [9]. Many of them although had training from elite schools
confronted employment discrimination which was practiced openly
well into the 1970. us working in family law chamber was their only
available option. Yet, few women who managed chambers were not
independently done. Even though record has it that Jaiyeola Aduke
Alakija and Gloria Jackman was the rst two women to establish a
joint chamber on their own, the belief was that they were
inexperienced to operate a chamber. So, Jaiyeola Aduke Alakija
recruited a male who assisted in running the chamber [8].
In addition, during this period, the women were there but because
law is a diversifying profession many women preferred to go into
career establishment than legal practice. e reason was that it was a
tough profession to enter into and the women had to compete with
men to prove that what a man can do, a woman can also do. Also, at
that time women were conceived as “weaker” beings and the demands
of the legal profession such as creating time to travel, attending various
and prolonged meetings at unholy hours prevented them from
participating fully. e legal profession which was only one out of
several professions opened to educated elites in the pre-colonial and
colonial period and which women were entering into required time,
Adewoye [1] and the impression some people had during that period
was that a woman should dedicate and sacrice her time for her family.
Furthermore, another factor that militated against female
participation in the legal profession at the early periods was nance.
Income rate was low from 1935 to the colonial period even though,
compared with medicine or engineering, a legal training was quicker to
acquire and the profession itself was easier to establish. For the male, it
was still easier to amass fortune at the bar [1]. ose with these
traditional attitude found it an anathema for women to enter into male
reserved professions which includes the legal profession.
Citation: Henry AN, Evarista AF (2017) The Emergence and History of the “Gentlewomen of the Bar” into the Legal Profession in the South West
Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. Arts Social Sci J 8: 242. doi:10.4172/2151-6200.1000242
Page 3 of 5
Arts Social Sci J, an open access journal
ISSN: 2151-6200
Volume 8 • Issue 1 • 1000242
It is also imperative to note that the rst set of male lawyers
witnessed some challenges too. One was the irregularity of
employment except those who are conversant with the English Law.
For instance until August 1880 when Christopher Sapara Williams rst
appeared in the Supreme Court, there was no qualied practicing
lawyer in Lagos. ere were also sti requirements of the colonial
times that prevented many male lawyers from practicing. For instance,
in 1876, the best qualication for practice as a lawyer in the Lagos
Courts was admission to European Bars in Britain or Scotland or that a
potential lawyer must have constantly worked for ve years in the
oce of a practicing barrister or solicitor residing within the
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. erefore, the problem who
qualied as “t and proper persons” for the job occurred, but women
were also able to overcome these challenges [1].
eoretical Framework
Radical feminism is one of the several strands of feminism. It
maintains that women’s oppression is the rst, most widespread, and
deepest oppression ever experienced by mankind. Her place in the
home is the kitchen and the bedroom, so she is not expected to be
schooled, learned or educated. Iwuchukwu [10] noted that radical
feminists are only concerned with women’s experiences and
perceptions and do not see anything good in man. Some radical
feminists are Kate Millett, Shulamith Firestone and Mary Daly.
Ogunbameru [11] saw Kate Millett as one of the rst radical feminist
who insists that the roots of women’s oppression are buried deep in
patriarchy’s sex/gender system. Lerner in Ritzer [12] submits that
radical feminists see in every institution and in society’s most basic
stratication arrangements (heterosexuality, class, caste, race, ethnicity,
age, and gender), systems of domination and subordination and the
most fundamental structure of which is the system of patriarchy. Not
only is patriarchy historically the rst structure of domination and
submission, it continues as the most pervasive and enduring system of
inequality, the basic societal model of domination.
Ritzer [12] argues that feminist theory looks at the world from the
vantage points of women with eye to discover the signicant but
unacknowledged ways in which the activities of women are
subordinated by gender and variously aected by other stratication
practices such as class; race; age; enforced heterosexuality and geo-
social inequality help create our world. Feminists advance a range of
explanations for, and solutions to the exploitation of women. ey all
believe that the development of society can be explained and that
progress towards an improved future is possible [13]. e ultimate aim
of this type of feminism is to end men’s domination and to rid society
of the (even numerical) inequality of women in the legal profession.
Methodology
e study was conducted in the South West geopolitical zone of
Nigeria. is zone comprises Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti
States. e “Yorubas” constitute the predominant ethnic group in this
zone and Yoruba language is majorly spoken. is paper engaged
qualitative research method. e population is the legal luminaries in
the legal profession. Purposive sampling was engaged in selecting the
interviewees. Primary data were sourced from historical information
such as oral information, observations and experience of some persons
in the legal profession was relied on. It also includes eldwork, visits to
the Nigerian Bar Association oce, Law Schools and Law Faculties in
some Universities in Nigeria to obtain vital data for the study. Data
were analyzed using content analysis.
Results and Discussion
Emergence of “Gentlewomen of the Bar”
e Nigeria society both then and now places high premium on
male children as compared with the attention given to the female
children. is was evident in the number of female lawyers in the legal
profession in the pre and post-colonial days. In Nigeria, the colonialist
established schools basically to cater for the needs of the men that will
become catechists, secretaries and teachers. Njoku [14] stressed that in
many places women were not allowed to go to school at the initial
stage. is was because the aim of the educational policies of colonial
administration was not to produce scholars but clerical sta and
interpreter for the regime, which only men could fulll at a cheap
labour. Consequently, only a few women were able to venture into the
legal profession.
Adewoye [1] historically highlighted the emergence of women into
the legal profession. Despite the unfriendly atmosphere which was
dominated by men. e rst Nigeria female lawyer Miss Stella Jane
omas (later referred to as Mrs. Marke) emerged in November 1935.
e emergence of Stella Jane Marke, no doubt, was a novelty in Nigeria
and trail blazed the entrance of more women into the profession. In
consonance, an interviewee hinted thus:
…with the entry of women, the legal profession became
competitive.
Supporting the view above, the interviewee expatiated on the
achievement made by Stella Jane Mark and her character traits that
made the feat possible thus
…the feat achieved by Stella Jane Marke graphically shows the
dearth of females in the Law in West Africa in general. It also shows
poor enrolment of women in professional callings. It tend out that this
was reective of the colonial educational policies generally which was
designed not to professions such as Law in the colonies. Meanwhile, as
the only Nigerian female Lawyer of her time, Stella Jane Marke was
renowned for her toughness, bravery and steadfastness in the midst of
her colleagues.
(Interview, female Senior Advocate of Nigeria)
is enviable position of Stella Jane Marke as the pioneer female
lawyer in Nigeria was not rivaled until 1947, twelve years later.
Modupe Alakija (later Mrs. Renner) became the second female lawyer
in Nigeria. Aerwards, two years later another lady, Adebisi Adedoyin
(later Mrs. Adebiyi) was called to the English bar thereby making the
number of female lawyers in Nigeria in 1949 three. It took another
three years before Gloria Rhodes (later Mrs Jackman) joined her
colleagues of Nigerian female lawyers. Since Stella Jane omas blazed
trail in 1935, only one female lawyer was produced in 1935, 1947, 1949
and 1952. It was in 1953 that three were produced, and another three
in 1956. Up to 1956, only ten female lawyers had qualied in Nigeria
amidst over three hundred lawyers in the country at the period [4].
Interestingly, 1953 was unique in the annals of the legal practice in
Nigeria. is is because three women who later made great impact in
Nigerian history were called to bar this year. ey were Kafayat
Abimbola Augusto (later Mrs. Bakare) who qualied in February 1953,
Modupe Akingbein (later Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh) was called to
bar in March 1953, and Jayeiola Aduke Alakija who also qualied in
November of the same year. Likewise, Martina Efunyemi Akerele,
Christianah Osibodu, and Atandare Beatrice Olukemi called to bar in
1956. ese six sets of women were called to bar in 1959; Abimbola
Aina Da Rocha, Remilekun Braithwaite, Muyinat Olabisi Dawodu,
Citation: Henry AN, Evarista AF (2017) The Emergence and History of the “Gentlewomen of the Bar” into the Legal Profession in the South West
Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. Arts Social Sci J 8: 242. doi:10.4172/2151-6200.1000242
Page 4 of 5
Arts Social Sci J, an open access journal
ISSN: 2151-6200
Volume 8 • Issue 1 • 1000242
Atinuke Oloko, Modupe Maja, and Ajibola Olubunmi Adelowo. While
these four women joined the league in the year 1960 that Nigeria
gained her independence; Odujirin Olufunmlayo Olabisi, Onalaja
Moronikeji Omotayo, Femi-Pearse Obafunke Folasade and Akintade
Sydney Aderinola [15].
Despite having women presence in the legal profession in Nigeria,
the prejudices continued, only a few clients had condence in women
lawyers. Many were skeptical to seek their services as they were seen as
incompetent to appear in court. But these pioneer set of women in the
legal profession were determined to cut their teeth in the profession. As
explicated by this interviewee:
…this was because in the beginning of the profession and
thereabout, practicing female lawyers were at a disadvantage because
of their gender. At that time, few people seek the services of a female
lawyer compared to the male lawyers because of cultural prejudices.
(Interview, Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria)
is is in agreement with Olujobi [9] that people were not too
willing to accept professional women at her time. When it was
observed that a female is committed, diligent and determined with no
expectation of leniency, she is accorded her due respect. Many of the
female lawyers in practice then avoided the use of feminine guile and
were very committed to the job. ey were also dedicated not just to
the job but to other things such as helping young people. e legal
profession seems lucrative then as stated by the interviewee below.
…It was as a result of the poor treatment given to all other
profession that the legal profession had an inux of young men.
Besides, attractions of the law compared with other professions seemed
obvious. e legal career provided brighter potentials than most other
careers
(Interview, female Senior Advocate of Nigeria).
Stating the reasons why there was inux of men into the profession
during the colonial era, the interviewee noted that legal profession
aorded men social prestige in the society. It placed in an enviable
pedestal that makes the profession respectable thereby enticing the
females into the profession. ey are the “learned” profession then due
to their carriage and charisma in the society. She stated thus:
…likewise at that time, a legal practitioner could earn a living
independently of the government without being employed in the civil
service. It provided some measure of personnel that was absent in most
other profession. e profession also added to this, high social prestige;
a practicing lawyer enjoys a measure of personal freedom. He could
earn a living independent of government. Also because of their power
of oration and good communication skills they are called upon for
advice and guidance on issues of public and people regard them as
relevant to championing the peoples cause
(Interview, female Law
Lecturer, University of Lagos).
Essentially, the journey of women in the legal profession in Nigeria
was not a smooth ride as it were. e few women that were able to
make it into the legal profession were discriminated on gender basis.
Similarly, most men in the legal profession were reluctant to employ
the services of women who were also qualied. ese same few women
were able to cut their teeth in the early days of the legal profession in
Nigeria because of their astuteness, toughness and determination to
swim in the water dominated by males. ese qualities shown by these
women paved the way for more dogged women who ventured into the
legal profession aer colonialism ended in 1960.
Conclusion
From the discourse so far, arguably, women in the legal profession
have come a long way in history and gradually excelled in their chosen
profession. However, the emergence of women into the legal profession
was rough and unpromising due to the fact that the status of Nigerian
women has always been an ignominious story where they are seen as
second class citizens, passengers and minions that should be neglected
and denied access to formal education. Uzuegbunam [16] accentuated
that women are perceived as profane creatures that deserve no respect
and as such should be treated as subordinates to men. Women’s voice
should not be heard in any discussion or decision making process.
Women are misunderstood and misjudged as inconsequential
creatures who could not contribute meaningfully to societal
development. e history and emergence of the rst female lawyer in
Nigeria in 1935 was novel to the societal belief but it agged women’s
attention to the fact that they can also be called the “Gentlewomen of
the Bar”.
References
1. Adewoye O (1977) e legal profession in Nigeria 1865-1962. Longman,
Nigeria.
2. Solanke F (2007) Reaching for the stars: the autobiography of ‘Folake
Solanke’. Book-Builders Editions Africa, Ibadan, p:165.
3. Balogun HA (2009) Women in the Law. Habiba Balogun Consulting
Libra Law Oce, Lagos.
4. Oputa GU (2004) Nigerian legal profession and lawyers’ directory.
Justice-watch, pp: 592-850.
5. Umar A, Imhanobe SO (2006) Quick reference material on Nigerian law
and practice. Temple Legal Consult, Abuja.
6. Denzer L (1992) Domestic science training in Yoruba land Nigeria. In:
Tranberg Hansen K (ed.), African encounters with domesticity, Rutgers
University Press, New Jersey.
7. Ogundijo T (1993) Women education revisited. Daily Times, p: 8.
8. Adewale T (1991) Reminiscence at the bar. Bookcra Ltd, Ibadan.
9. Olujobi G (2011) e making of a Woman. Jaiyeola Aduke Alakija.
10. Iwuchukwu O (2013) Gender equality for sustainable development in
Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa 15: 8.
11. Ogunbameru OA (2008) Sociological theory (1st ed.). Pent house
Publications, Ibadan.
12. Ritzer G (2008) Sociological theory. McGraw-Hill Companies, New York,
pp: 416-453.
13. Haramlabos M, Holborn M (2008) Sociology themes and perspectives
(7th edition). Harper Collins Publishers Limited, London.
14. Njoku JE (1980) e world of the Africa woman. Scarecrows Press Inco,
London.
15. Fawehinmi G (1988) Bench and bar in Nigeria. Nigerian Law
Publications LTD, Lagos.
16. Uzuegbunam AO (2013) Women in domestic violence in Nigeria: gender
perspectives. Open Journal of Philosophy 3: 185-191.
Citation: Henry AN, Evarista AF (2017) The Emergence and History of the “Gentlewomen of the Bar” into the Legal Profession in the South West
Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria. Arts Social Sci J 8: 242. doi:10.4172/2151-6200.1000242
Page 5 of 5
Arts Social Sci J, an open access journal
ISSN: 2151-6200
Volume 8 • Issue 1 • 1000242
