Herbert Macaulay is widely regarded as the father of nationalism in Nigeria. He was a political activist and one of the founding fathers of Nigerian nationalism, who played a key role in the struggle for Nigeria's independence from British colonial rule.
Macaulay was a strong advocate for self-rule and a believer in the idea that Nigeria should be governed by Nigerians. He founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1923, which became the first political party in Nigeria. The party's aim was to promote the interest of the Nigerian people and to agitate for self-rule.
Macaulay was also a prolific writer and used his newspaper, the Lagos Daily News, as a platform to advocate for Nigerian self-rule. He was imprisoned several times for his political activities and suffered various forms of persecution at the hands of the colonial authorities.
Macaulay's tireless efforts paved the way for subsequent nationalists such as Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo, who continued the struggle for Nigeria's independence. Thus, while others also played important roles in Nigeria's nationalist movement, it is generally agreed that Herbert Macaulay was the pioneer and father of Nigerian nationalism.