H. O. Davies

Hezekiah Oladipo Davies was born on April 5, 1905, in Lagos. Educated at King's College, Lagos, and the London School of Economics, he studied under Harold Laski, becoming an ardent Pan-Africanist and trade union organizer alongside Ladipo Solanke in WASU.

Returning to Nigeria in 1934, Davies co-founded the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), transforming it into the foremost vehicle of modern anti-colonial politics. A brilliant barrister called to the Bar at the Middle Temple, he achieved continental fame in 1952 when he travelled to Kenya to join Denis Pritt in defending Jomo Kenyatta and the Kapenguria Six against the British colonial government. Made Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1959, he served as a federal minister and international jurist.