In the pre-independence era, several youth associations and clubs existed in the Lagos Colony. They served as meeting points for would-be and eventual leaders of Nigeria's quest for independence.
Some of the prominent youth associations then included the Egbe Killa of Idumota, the Obanibashiri Club, the Oredegbe Club (Friendship Club), and the lesser-known clubs such as the Egbe Fodi Club and the "Daily Woolen" (One Day, One Woolen Cloth) Club. It is even more amazing that there were female-only associations as well, as evidenced by the Egbe Mesho Obirin (Fashion Conscious Ladies Club) led by:
- Alhaja Sunlola Ayishat, wife of Nasiru Morin
- Alhaja Sidikat Aros
- Alhaja Amuda Grillo
- Alhaja Simbi Igbo
- Alhaja Sikirat Alli Owe
- Alhaja Mulikat Ogbara
- Alhaja Kadijat Tokosi and others.
The Mesho Ladies Club is a pointer to the fact that an estimated 28 to 36 such youth associations and clubs existed in pre-1950 Lagos Island. The Egbe Killa was founded by prominent men who were indigenes of Idumota, including others from different areas in Lagos Island. All the associations from Lagos Island were among the constituent units of the flagship nationalist movement in Nigeria, the Nigerian National Democratic Council (NNDC), that was launched on August 28th, 1944.
Each social club comprised an average of 18 to 25 members, with the largest having about 50 members. These clubs held meetings at varying frequencies for the progress of Lagos some fortnightly, some weekly, and some monthly.
All the youth associations or clubs in pre-independence Lagos Island were composed of eminent, educated, politically active and enlightened personalities, such as:
Late Pa Lasisi Baruwa, Late Pa T. Omoshola Savage (the Are of Lagos), Late Pa Abdul Lasisi, Pa Buhari Animashaun, Ogunfolaji Osholonge, Late Pa Amodu Disu, Late Pa A.S.K. Agbabiaka and others.
Membership of these early youth clubs served as a form of status symbol, and membership application was determined by the social reputation of an applicant's family, an applicant's level of education, job, and social network. In fact, members of these youth clubs were usually peers, staying in the same and adjoining neighborhoods and sharing similar experiences of growing up.
Thus, the clubs were to a large extent restricted to Omo-Adugbo (neighborhood indigenous natives). The social life of Lagos Island revolved around these clubs, as most social functions, public opinion, marriage contracts and other social engagements were underlined by membership in these clubs. Because of the strong social dynamics in Lagos Island, members were expected to observe high social culture and moral standards, with defaulters being expelled and condemned as social outcasts in the community.
Although these youth clubs were predominantly social institutions, they were extremely involved, at both individual and collective levels, in political processes.
It has already been noted that the formation of the Nigerian National Council involved these social clubs. It is also appropriate to state that the political role of these clubs predated the formation of the NNC. Members of these groups either belonged to the Gbegi or Gbebo to symbolize their political affiliations. The Gbegi members were those in support of Oba Eshugbayi Eleko and the Ilu Committee during the face-off with the colonial administration over the introduction of water levies in 1914. The Gbebo group comprised supporters of the colonial government.
The Gbegi-Gbebo divide was a powerful political tool used to mobilize support by the deposed and later reinstated Oba Eleko (1900-1925 and 1931-1932), who sided with his people in their opposition to the imposition of "expensive" water rate by the colonial administration in the early 1920s.
A similar engagement with politics took place during the tussle for the Obaship stool and ownership of the Idunganran Palace between Oba Musendiku Adeniji Adele II and Oba Adeyinka Oyekan / Prince Temiyemi between 1949 and 1957. Lagosian youth and youth clubs demonstrated political consciousness and participation that later metamorphosed into agitations for, and the eventual attainment of, independence.
By the 1980s, a majority of these social clubs faded out, largely because of their inability to regenerate by incorporating young people into their fold. The last of the pre-independence youth social clubs, the Woolen Club, ceased to exist in 1989 following the death of its President, Chief A.S.K. Agbabiaka.
Today, only pockets of the post-independence youth social clubs, which are now elder social clubs such as the Iganran Club, Gbobaniyi Club, Oredegbe Club, Koseyo Club, Bobaselu Club and Bi Omode O Ku, continue. Also, the more elitist clubs such as the Yoruba Tennis Club (founded in 1926) and the Eko Club (founded in 1975) continue to exist to date, with their membership transcending native Lagosians and restricted to educated, wealthy, and influential Nigerians resident in Lagos.
However, from the 1980s, new youth social clubs emerged, but with less impressive profiles often smaller and restricted only to organizing the usual end-of-year parties and other social events. The weak social bond that underlines the majority of the new youth social clubs, coupled with the economic decline of the Nigerian state and the prevalence of military rule in the 1980s, heralded the disappearance of the new youth clubs.
Thus, by the end of the 1980s, there was a deep vacuum in youth social and associational life in Lagos Island, with serious identity crises.
Source: Prince Ademola Oladega Akinsemoyin.
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