Margaret Ekpo

===Early politics===
[[File:Nigerian Public Domain 389.jpg|thumb|310x310px]]
Margaret Ekpo's first direct participation in political ideas and association was in 1945. Her husband was indignant with the [[Colonialism|colonial]] administrators' treatment of indigenous Nigerian doctors but as a [[civil servant]], he could not attend meetings to discuss the matter. Margaret Ekpo then attended meetings in place of her husband, the meetings were organized to discuss the discriminatory practices of the colonial administration in the city and to fight cultural and racial imbalance in administrative promotions. She later attended a political rally and was the only woman at the rally, which saw fiery speeches from [[Mbonu Ojike]], [[Nnamdi Azikiwe]] and [[Herbert Macaulay]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Udumebraye|first=Arute|title=Margaret Ekpo|url=https://www.academia.edu/30258835|language=en}}</ref> By the end of the decade she had organized a Market Women Association in Aba to unionize market women in the city.<ref name=Vanguard>"S-South Presidency Long Overdue, But...", ''Vanguard'', Nigeria, 11 July 2005.</ref> She used the association to promote women's solidarity as a platform to fight for the economic rights of women, economic protections and expansionary political rights of women. Ekpo's political career ended with the commencement of the [[Nigerian Civil War]]. At that time, she was detained by Biafran authorities for three years in prison with adequate feeding.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nigeriagalleria.com/Nigeria/Personality-Profiles/Prominent-Nigerians/Margaret-Ekpo.html|title=Margaret Ekpo, Politician, Teacher, Activist, Women's rights activist, Entrepreneur, Prominent Nigerian, Nigeria Personality Profiles|website=www.nigeriagalleria.com|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref>