Ekei Essien Oku

Ekei Essien Oku (born January 1, 1924) is a Nigerian librarian, historian and writer. She was one of the first chartered librarians in Nigeria and the first woman to be a Chief Librarian in Nigeria. She has published her research into the history of Nigeria based on the account of missionaries placing dates on the formation of towns in the 17th century.

Ekei Essien Oku
BornJanuary 1, 1924
Calabar
NationalityNigeria
EducationQueen's College, Lagos and North Western Polytechnic
OccupationChartered Librarian
Known forwriting Nigerian history
Spouse(s)Chief Essien Oku 1956
Childrenone son, two daughters

Life

Oku was born in Calabar in 1924. She was educated in Nigeria including at Queen's College, Lagos.[1] She first worked as a teacher[2] before she went to work as a librarian and she was sent to London to study at the North Western Polytechnic (now part of the University of North London). She returned to Nigeria where she became the first woman from Nigeria to become a chartered librarian in 1953. This was just two years after the first man, Kalu Chima Okorie, in 1951.[3] She was the first woman chief librarian in Nigeria in 1964.[2] and she held that position in Calabar and in Lagos.[4]

Oku researched and wrote, "The Kings and Chiefs of Old Calabar (1785-1925)". The book was published in 1989.[5] She studied the records taken by missionaries including at the time of the slave revolt and she believes that the slaves supported their masters. When their masters were killed then although the slaves wanted freedom they were keen to find justice or revenge for their masters killers.[2]

Oku has been profiled by the BBC in a half hour study of her life and work "African Perspective".[4]

References
  1. Udo, Mary (2017-02-20). "OKU, Ekei Essien". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  2. Bellagamba, Alice; Greene, Sandra E.; Klein, Martin A. (2013-05-13). African Voices on Slavery and the Slave Trade: Volume 1, The Sources. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-19470-9.
  3. "Nigeria Pioneers" (PDF). NigeriaRoute. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  4. "African Perspective - Historian Ekei Essien Oku - BBC Sounds". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  5. Oku, Ekei Essien (1989). The Kings & Chiefs of Old Calabar (1785-1925). Glad Tidings Press. ISBN 978-978-30541-0-3.
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