Back to: History SSS 2
My brilliant Afrilearn superstar! I hope you’re having a fantastic day! Have you ever wondered how Nigeria became independent? Imagine your school is controlled by a strict principal who makes all the rules. One day, the students start demanding the right to make decisions for themselves. Eventually, the principal agrees and hands over power to the students. This is similar to what happened in decolonisation—when Nigeria and other African countries gained freedom from colonial rule.
Today, we’ll discuss what decolonisation means, the process Nigeria went through to become independent, and how Nigerian nationalists took part in the country’s administration after independence.
Deconolization; definition process of decolonization and attainment of Nigerian nationalists in the administration
What is Decolonisation?
Decolonisation is the process by which a country gains independence from foreign rule and starts governing itself. In Nigeria, this meant the British gradually transferring power to Nigerians, allowing them to control their own government.
Decolonisation did not happen overnight. It was a gradual process influenced by nationalist struggles, international pressure, and the weakening of Britain after World War II.
Process of Decolonisation in Nigeria
The journey to independence in Nigeria happened in stages, through a series of constitutional developments that allowed Nigerians to participate more in governance.
The Richards Constitution (1946)
This was the first step toward self-rule. It allowed Nigerians to have representatives in government, though the British still had control.
It divided Nigeria into three regions—North, West, and East—but did not give full independence.
The Macpherson Constitution (1951)
This constitution increased Nigerian participation in government.
It introduced a House of Representatives, where Nigerians could discuss laws.
Political parties like NCNC (Nnamdi Azikiwe), Action Group (Obafemi Awolowo), and NPC (Ahmadu Bello) became more active.
The Lyttleton Constitution (1954)
This constitution brought regional self-government, meaning the North, West, and East regions had more control over their own affairs.
Nigeria was moving closer to full independence.
The 1957 and 1959 Constitutional Conferences
In 1957, the Western and Eastern regions became fully self-governing.
In 1959, the North also achieved self-government.
Elections were held, and Nigeria was ready for full independence.
Independence on October 1, 1960
Nigeria officially gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960.
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, while Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first Governor-General (later the first President in 1963).
Nigerian Nationalists in Administration After Independence
After independence, Nigerian leaders took over the country’s administration. Some of the key figures included:
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe – Nigeria’s first Governor-General (1960) and first President (1963).
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – Nigeria’s first Prime Minister.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo – Premier of the Western Region and a key political leader.
Sir Ahmadu Bello – Premier of the Northern Region and leader of NPC.
Michael Okpara – Premier of the Eastern Region.
These leaders worked to develop Nigeria’s economy, education, and governance, but challenges like ethnic conflicts and political struggles made leadership difficult.
Summary
Decolonisation is the process of gaining independence from foreign rule. Nigeria’s journey to independence involved constitutional changes between 1946 and 1960, with nationalist leaders like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Awolowo, and Ahmadu Bello playing key roles. After independence, these leaders took charge of Nigeria’s administration, laying the foundation for the country’s future.
Evaluation
- What is decolonisation?
- Mention two constitutional developments that led to Nigeria’s independence.
- Who was Nigeria’s first Prime Minister?
- How did Nigerian nationalists contribute to the country’s administration after independence?
You are unstoppable, Afrilearn superstar! Keep shining and learning because knowledge is your power. See you in the next lesson—keep going, you’re doing amazing!