Gani Fawehinmi facts for kids

Chief Abdul-Ganiyu "Gani" Oyesola Fawehinmiⁱ// was a famous Nigerian author, publisher, philanthropist, and social critic. He was also a human and civil rights lawyer and a politician.

He was born on April 22, 1938, and passed away on September 5, 2009. He held the traditional title of the Lamofin of Ondo. Gani Fawehinmi was known for fighting for justice and the rights of ordinary people in Nigeria.

Early Life

Gani Fawehinmi was born to Saheed and Munirat Fawehinmi in Ondo City, Ondo State. His father, Chief Saheed Tugbobo Fawehinmi, was a successful timber trader. He was also a kind person and a community leader. Gani's father was a Muslim chief of the Yoruba people.

Gani's grandfather was Chief Lisa Alujanu Fawehinmi of Ondo. He was known for winning many battles for the Ondo people in the 1800s. This earned him the nickname 'Alujanun', which means 'spirit'.

Education

Gani started primary school at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School in Ondo in 1947. He finished there in 1953. Then, he went to Victory College Ikare, a Christian school, from 1954 to 1958. He passed his West African School Certificate Examination in 1958.

While in college, he was called "Nation" because he cared a lot about national issues. He loved reading newspapers like Daily Times and West African Pilot. After college, he worked briefly as a law clerk in Lagos.

In 1961, Gani went to Holborn College of Law at the University of London to study law. His father passed away while he was studying, making it hard to pay for school. He took on many small jobs in London to finish his degree. He returned to Nigeria in 1964 and became a lawyer the next year.

Law Career

Gani Fawehinmi was a brave lawyer who often took on difficult cases. He once defended a person for free against the government. Even though he was detained for nine months for this, the case made his law practice well-known.

He was a national publicity secretary for the Nigerian Bar Association from 1971 to 1973. He sometimes disagreed with the association because he believed in helping people, even if it meant breaking old rules. For example, in 1984, he represented clients in a military court. He did this even when the Nigerian Bar Association told its members not to. He believed everyone deserved a fair chance.

In 1994, Gani Fawehinmi and other Nigerians started the National Conscience Party. He even ran for president in 2003 under this party. In September 2001, he received the highest legal title in Nigeria, becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Fighting for Justice

Gani Fawehinmi was a lawyer for a journalist named Dele Giwa in 1986. Giwa was killed in a bomb blast. Because of his work, Gani Fawehinmi was often arrested and held by the government. His international passport was taken many times. His home and office were searched, and he was sometimes beaten.

He was moved from one part of the country to another to stop him from reaching his supporters. The government even took his books and set his library on fire. His law office was attacked, and guards were shot.

Between 1969 and 1996, he was put in many police cells and prisons. He fought against military rule and always stood up for the poor and those who were treated unfairly. His supporters called him "the people's president" because he was always on their side.

Gani Fawehinmi Library

The Gani Fawehinmi Library started in 1965 in Lagos. It moved a few times before settling in its current location in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. This library is known as the largest in Nigeria.

It holds over a million books and other materials on many topics. These include law, politics, biographies, and social sciences. The library also has an archive with old newspapers and magazines from the 1970s until today. Some of these newspapers cannot be found anywhere else in Nigeria. The library also has a gallery about Chief Gani Fawehinmi's life.

Awards

Gani Fawehinmi received several important awards for his work. In 1993, he won the Bruno Kreisky Award. This award is given to people who help advance human rights around the world. In 1998, he received the 'Bernard Simmons Award' from the International Bar Association. This was to recognize his work for human rights and democracy.

In 2018, after his death, Chief Fawehinmi was given the Order of the Niger. This is Nigeria's second-highest honor.

Death

Gani Fawehinmi passed away on September 5, 2009. He was 71 years old and had been battling lung cancer for a long time. He was buried on September 15, 2009, in his hometown of Ondo City, Nigeria.

He was disappointed with the state of his country when he died. Because of this, he refused the highest national honor offered to him by the Nigerian government in 2008. He rejected the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) to protest the many years of bad governance in Nigeria.

Gani Fawehinmi Park

In 2010, the Lagos state government named a park after him. This park is located in Ojota, Lagos, Nigeria.

Hospital

• Gani Fawehinmi Health Diagnostic Center Ondo City.

Images for kids

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  A cross view of Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos-Nigeria

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  A road view of Gani Fawehinmi Park, Lagos-Nigeria

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  Gani Fawehinmi Garden, Ojota, Lagos

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  Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos-Nigeria

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  Gani Fawehinmi Statue, Ojota

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  Gani Fawehinmi Statue, Ojota