The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM), the ISp affiliate in Nigeria, held a successful two-day Socialist School on 19–20 September 2025, bringing together workers, students, and young activists from different regions of the country. The event focused on political education, strategy discussions, and collective analysis of the deepening crisis of capitalism, both globally and nationally. It was a face to face meeting in Abuja, but some comrades who couldn’t attend in person participated via zoom.
The School reaffirmed RSM’s roots in the ideas of Marxism and its commitment to building a revolutionary organization of the working class. RSM comrades are planning to turn this event to an annual space for study, discussion, and political development.
The first day opened with a discussion on feminism and women’s struggles, highlighting how women’s oppression is rooted in class society and reinforced by capitalism. Speakers explained that feminism, from a socialist perspective is part of the broader fight for human emancipation. They stressed that any revolution that fails to liberate women cannot be considered genuine, and that socialist feminists must lead the struggle against patriarchy, gender-based violence, and the commodification of women’s bodies. Comrades also discussed the history of women’s resistance, from the Aba Women’s Revolt of 1929 in Nigeria to contemporary global movements, and discussed concrete actions to defend reproductive rights, free healthcare, and education.
The second session focused on imperialism and geopolitics, analyzing the growing instability of the global capitalist system. Speakers noted that the major imperialist blocs—the Western camp under the lead of the United States and the rising camp under China and Russia, are investing heavily in militarization and competing for global dominance. This has intensified wars, repression, and environmental destruction. The discussion concluded that capitalism survives through war and exploitation, and that only the international unity of the working class can challenge imperialism and create a socialist alternative.
The final discussion of the first day examined class struggle and workers’ rights. Tracing the history of labor movements in Nigeria and worldwide, it was emphasized that workers continue to create immense wealth yet live in poverty. There is a burning need to fight for basic social rights—housing, water, food, education, and healthcare—and to rebuild a strong, democratic labor movement capable of leading mass struggles against capitalist exploitation.
The second day focused on socialist and Marxist ideas as tools to understand and change society. Comrades revisited the lessons of the 1917 Russian Revolution and discussed how Marxist theory remains vital for analyzing exploitation, inequality, and alienation under modern capitalism. They noted that Nigeria has already seen major mass movements—Occupy Nigeria (2012), End SARS (2020), and End Bad Governance (2024)—which show that revolutionary change is both necessary and possible.
The School concluded with a session on building socialist organization and movements, where RSM comrades agreed on practical steps for campaigning, branch building, political education, regional coordination, and cadre development.
The 2025 Socialist School marked an important step forward for RSM. It strengthened the political confidence of a new generation of activists committed to the struggle against capitalism, patriarchy, and imperialism—toward a socialist future.
