mba was born in australia. her father was jewish and a holocaust survivor. she met her husband at a university in australia and the couple soon left australia for nigeria in 1966. she undertook graduate courses in history at the university of ibadan and her theses was later published as a book titled, 'nigerian women mobilized: women's political activity in southern nigerian, 1900-1965'. she joined the history department of university of lagos where she was a participator and writer in the field of women's history and studies. she contributed to the growth of research and teaching of women's history and studies in the country, opening up the issue of women participation in the historical development of the country.