Calls for Portrait Photographs, Historical Records and Oral Testimonies on Nigeria’s Early Legislators

The Nigerian Dictionary of National Biography (NDNB) has called on families, descendants, historians, researchers and members of the public to provide portrait photographs, historical documents and credible oral testimonies relating to Nigerians who served in the country's legislatures during the pre-independence era, the First Republic and the Second Republic.

The appeal is part of an ongoing effort to reconstruct and preserve the biographies of hundreds of former legislators, many of whom have little or no publicly accessible biographical information.

Although official parliamentary records establish the identities, constituencies and legislative contributions of many of these individuals, significant gaps remain in their personal histories. In numerous cases, information about their dates of birth and death, family backgrounds, education, professional careers and lives outside Parliament is unavailable. Portrait photographs that would enable readers to recognise and identify many of these historical figures are also difficult to locate.

The NDNB is therefore seeking assistance from individuals and families who may possess materials capable of filling these gaps.

Materials being sought include:

1. Portrait photographs for identification: Clear individual photographs showing the faces of former legislators, including photographs extracted from family albums, official records or historical publications.

1. Personal and historical documents: Birth and death records, educational certificates, correspondence, appointment letters, newspaper cuttings, obituaries, funeral programmes, memoirs and other relevant records.

1. Biographical information: Details of family origins, education, occupations, political careers, community service and other aspects of their lives.

1. Oral testimonies: Credible accounts from relatives, contemporaries, community elders and others with reliable knowledge of the individuals concerned.

Contributors are encouraged to provide available information about the origins of submitted materials, particularly the names of persons depicted in photographs, approximate dates and the sources of oral accounts, to assist with identification and verification.

The NDNB particularly welcomes contributions concerning lesser-known parliamentarians whose names survive in legislative and electoral records but whose personal histories have received little scholarly or public attention.

The initiative seeks to ensure that these individuals are remembered not only for their parliamentary service but also for their wider contributions to their communities and the development of Nigeria.

All submissions will be subject to editorial review and verification before incorporation into the relevant biographies. Contributors and sources will be appropriately acknowledged where applicable.

Members of the public with relevant portrait photographs, historical documents or credible oral testimonies are invited to send them to editorial@ndnb.ng, indicating the name of the former legislator concerned and any available background information.

The NDNB is published by the Institute for Historical Studies, Biographical Research, Documentation and Legacy (IHS-BiRD & L) and is accessible at www.ndnb.ng.

By bringing together official records, family archives and community memories, the Institute hopes to recover overlooked personal histories, establish reliable visual records of Nigeria’s early legislators and preserve their legacies for future generations.